It looks like the simmering anger among Newcastle United is about to boil over into something very visible indeed. A number of Toon fans are planning a mass walk-out of St James' Park after an hour of their last home game, against Cardiff City on Saturday, as a protest against manager Alan Pardew.
Pressure on the embattled boss has increased steadily since Christmas. The Magpies are currently on a run of six successive defeats - the first time the club has experienced such a poor stretch of form since 1987.
After United lost 3-0 to Arsenal on Monday night, fan website nufc.com wrote: "Post-match chatter centred on attempts to gain support for a mass walkout after 60 minutes of Saturday's visit of Cardiff City.
"Given the team's current rate of implosion, even sticking around for an hour might be beyond the call of duty.
"The lack of unity is glaringly evident and mirrors the fractured relationship between manager and fans. There's a clear need for a figurehead at this club to restore some self-respect, organisation and belief. That man is not Alan Pardew."
The mounting discontent has also inspired The Chronicle, a regional title in the Northeast. Today's issue leads with the excellent headline "P45DUE".
