Sting, Jimmy Nail join Newcastle fans takeover campaign

Newcastle United fans have managed to attract celebrities to their bid to oust current club owner Mike Ashley.

The Sun says celebrity supporter Sting is backing a Toon Army bid launched yesterday to get rid of the hated owner.

Ashley's controversial rebranding of St James' Park proved the last straw for thousands of unhappy fans, who are getting behind the Newcastle United Supporters Trust's Yes We Can campaign to buy the club.

Sting, plus fellow high-profile Geordies Jimmy Nail and Tim Healy, are behind the bid.

The former Police frontman called on Ashley to reverse his rebranding of Toon's famous home to sportsdirect.com@St James' Park.

He said: "I don't like it. I'm a traditionalist, it's St James' Park, always has been, always should be."

The campaign will last for six weeks, and NUST spokesman Neil Mitchell said: "It's the ultimate protest, an attempt to buy the club.

"After talks with serious Newcastle-based investors we believe the time's right for fans to lead the charge to reclaim their club."