COUNT ANT & DEC IN

Sports Direct store in the centre of the city, before the 2-1 defeat against Tottenham.

And the fans’ uprising was given massive momentum after Geordie showbiz stars Ant and Dec, boasting 6.6million Twitter followers, re-tweeted the hashtag #IfRafaGoesWeGo.

Geordie legend Alan Shearer publicly shared fans’ concerns over Ashley’s financial outlook.

Shearer said: “Rafa has again made a profit in the transfer market this year.

“It was about £120m for finishing 10th last season.

“My question would be, where’s that money gone? No one seems to know.

“From Mike Ashley’s point of view, he will be sat back and rubbing his hands together.”

Greg Tomlinson, of fans coalition The Magpie Group, said: “It was a great turnout to protest against Ashley’s ownership of the club.

“The protest is against

Ashley and not the Sports

Direct employees – we made this clear to the staff at the start of the protest, and gave them chocolates as a small gesture.”

A club statement on the eve of the protest, signed by

Benitez, managing director Lee Charnley and skipper Jamaal Lascelles, called for unity.

But Toon blogger Chris Holt said: “Enough with the desperate calls to arms, and maybe concentrate on running the club with an iota of the passion the fans have.”