IT'S safe to assume that Mike Ashley will not find it quite so easy to jump into a taxi at St James' Park this weekend as he did on Monday night.

Having witnessed a narrow 1-0 win that lifted the Magpies back to the top of the Championship, the Newcastle owner waited around 45 minutes after the final whistle before heading for his cab.

But once he had walked out of Bramall Lane with managing director Derek Llambias, there was no sign of his taxi, leaving Ashley and Llambias standing in the cold.

There were no angry fans waiting to meet him, the travelling Geordies had already departed and began their journeys back to the North-East.

He is unlikely to have it that way on Saturday, when Peterborough United head to St James' Park looking to make a bad day worse.

More than 11,000 people have signed an online petition - hosted by Newcastle United Supporters Trust - protesting against Ashley's plans to sell off the naming rights to the world famous ground.

There are expected to be fans' protests before and after Saturday's Championship match, when Ashley will be subjected to more of the stinging criticism that he he has been hit with for more than a year.

Chris Hughton might have led Newcastle to the top of Championship, but that has done nothing to ease the pressure on Ashley to sell up.

So far, though, Ashley has been unable to, which ended last week in his decision to publicly take the club off the market. Even if he would still cash in if a substantial offer came along.

The fans' fury will not go away, having blamed Ashley for last season's relegation from the Premier League - and the rest!

If the Newcastle owner decides to go for a post-match stroll outside the main entrance under the Milburn Stand at 5.30pm on Saturday, I recommend his chauffeur is already waiting for him.

Maybe this Saturday will be more suited to a trip to the North-East in his helicopter. Straight in, and straight out.