NEWCASTLE United supporters turned out in force to protest against owner Mike Ashley’s decision to rename St James’ Park.

Fans gathered outside the stadium’s Milburn Entrance – reserved for players and officials – before Saturday’s Championship match against Peterborough to voice their objections to the ground becoming Sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park.

Banners reading “Saint Robson, Saint Shearer, Saint James” were displayed, and there were chants of “Ashley out”, in reference to Mr Ashley, who last week said the naming rights of the stadium were for sale.

As the number of fans grew, four police officers on horseback stopped people walking past the entrance and the area was cordoned off by stewards.

As the media arrived to record the protest, stewards wearing high-visibility jackets stopped photographers and those with video cameras from recording anything.

Outside the ground, Chris Cheetham, 21, of Ferryhill, County Durham, handed out fliers.

He said: “I have been a season ticket-holder for about eight years. We cannot take any more, and so enough is enough.

“The online petition went up last Thursday and already we have had about 17,000 people sign it.

“We hope today that we can get the name changed back.”

Civil servant Adam Marshall, 31, from Durham City, said: “You cannot do away with 120 years of history. It is not the place to put corporate sponsorship on at all.”