fair enough, i appreciate there are some things more important than money, lets hope it never comes to that.

I think I've said this before, but it is 52 years since I first went to St. James' Park. In that time NUFC have been out of the top flight for at least half of the years and have won only one significant trophy. Makes no difference to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Stadium#Name


I hadn't thought about it either, but now they mention it.

Sportswear giants Adidas are leading the chase to win the naming rights for Newcastle's St James' Park.
Full story: Sunday Mirror

And Newcastle owner Mike Ashley says all the money raised from selling the naming rights will be used to sign new players.
Full story: The People

2 of the stories today, looks like it may happen.

May the Fat Southern Bastard's sneakers explode.

Comme toujours, the gutter press is wrong. Adidas deny any interest (who can blame them?).

Meanwhile an online petition has over 12000 signatures (including mine) condemning the whole notion of selling naming rights.

I genuinely can't see the problem here, unless of course you've got a UKIP "Save The Pound" type of entrenched jingoistic mindset. Is it any worse than having the Board of your club sell the front of the shirts to the highest bidder, like Northern Rock?

For real fans, surely the ground will always only be SJP, even if it's temporary official name is the Pedigree Chum Bonanzarama. You never know, it might even end up with a witty sponsor, The Newky Broon Groond or soemthing of that ilk.

If my team could make a few bob off some clown who wanted to pay handsomely to rename Tannadice Stadium for a season or two, I don't think I'd have any problem at all... it would still "be" Tannadice to me.

Furriner.

"Newcastle United have announced their stadium will be known as the sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium for the immediate future."

It's a funny name but personally, I thought the Mackems plan of raising the cash to buy the rights and calling it "Sid James' Park (Carry on in the Championship)" was funnier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ed/8342406.stm

"Sportsdirect.com@St. James' Park."

That is just plain desperate, as well as being offensive on so many levels. I have sympathy for real Toon fans who must hate seeing what's happening to their club.

Thank you for your sympathy, it's much needed.

What a prat Ashley is. He's now managed to infuriate every Toon supporter and avoid raising any sponsorship money at a stroke. Pure genius.

This is hypnotic:

couldn't have happened to a nicer guy

It doesn't look to me that the ManUre player actually touched the ball and deliberately fouled the Chelski player.