NEWCASTLE United FC duo of Freddie Shepherd and Douglas Hall faced accusations they were "football fat cats" after details emerged of enormous bonus payments.

The chairman and non-executive director are in line for bonus payments of £250,000 and £225,000 respectively.

That would take Mr Shepherd's total salary and bonus package for the year to £668,000, a rise of 11 per cent on the previous year when he was awarded a 154 per cent increase on 2001.

Mr Hall's total package will rise 12 per cent to £591,000 - this follows a 356 per cent increase last year.

The pay rises are mitigated by the boardroom success of NUFC, which saw record turnover, profits and season ticket sales achieved.

Fans were last night concerned that the off-field successes would be shortlived. The record performances were made on the back of a fourth place finish in the Premiership which earned them a place in the Champions League. The prospect of watching the cream of European football encouraged fans to turn out in droves to buy season tickets.

The club has since experienced a dramatic dip in form, crashing out of Europe, and only a rally in recent weeks has lifted the side from the foot of the Premiership.

Michael Martin, editor of NUFC fanzine True Faith, said: "With the club going out of the Champions League early on, the club should be making some budgetary arrangements to cover the loss of revenue. Obviously, that does not apply to the people who have got their snouts in the trough.

"At least Shepherd is there full-time. It is difficult to say what Douglas Hall does. Combined pay of nearly £1.25m is more than what the club paid out on players in the close season."

Another fan, who asked not to be named, said: "They are the football equivalent of City fat cats, they should be stumping up cash to get a squad capable of getting us back in Europe."

A financial spokesman for the club said: "It is important to remember that they have had a record year.

"It is also important to remember they have worked very hard for the last few years building the club up with the stadium improvements and academy training ground.

"They have been looking at opportunities such as building the brand abroad. That is a role Douglas is very involved in. He does invest a lot of time into the club."

Mr Hall is heavily involved in an NUFC satellite office in Gibraltar, from which no visible benefit has yet been seen.

* Tottenham Hotspur plc made a £7.1m loss before tax in the year to June 30, according to results announced to the Stock Market. That performance compared with a £900,000 pre-tax profit last year.