Officials at Newcastle United, officially put up for sale by embattled owner Mike Ashley, spent another day trying to make peace with its mutinous fans over the supposed mistreatment of one of the Premier League club’s folk heroes.

After Mr Ashley’s frank and emotion-filled three-page statement last weekend, in which the Sports Direct owner said he was bowing to fans’ demands to sell up, supporters’ groups were back on the attack over the alleged sacking of football pundit Alan Shearer as a club ambassador.