NEWCASTLE fans reacted with disbelief after manager Chris Hughton was dismissed today - just weeks after his side walloped arch-rivals Sunderland 5-1.
Baffled and upset fans gathered outside St James's Park after the news broke.
And as sacked Hughton left the stadium, looking thoroughly dejected, he was given a round of applause by Toon supporters.
Hughton took Newcastle back to the Premiership in one season under his 18-month spell as manager, but left St James's Park with his bags packed.
Lifelong Newcastle fans Tom Stephens and Joe Benns thanked Hughton and shook his hand before he was driven away in a black Lexus saloon.
Tom, 19, said: "Thank you Chris, I'll never forget you."
Hughton replied with a simple "Thank you."
As the dejected manager was driven away, the two fans clapped.
Wearing a Newcastle top, Tom, a student from Jesmond, said: "I was nearly in tears. It's horrible isn't it?
"To do this to someone who's stuck by the club and kept with the boys, got the boys back up.
"He should have been given another two years. What's he done wrong? He's lost a few games in a season that's been mental and horrible for everyone.
"It's disgusting of the club – when will we start to learn? We've done this so many times before - we did it with Keegan and we got relegated.
"Are we going to get relegated again? How many chances do you want? It's just ridiculous.
"Ashley has to go – no one likes him – I don't know why he's staying, what's the point? Just sell the club, get out of here, no one likes you.
"People absolutely hate him – there's no reason why he should stay, he thinks he's the big Godfather of the club.
"But the fans are the most important people and they wanted Hughton to stay, it's horrible."
Benns, 20, also a student from Jesmond, said: "We were just coming to Shearer's bar to try and spend our vouchers and we got a text saying Hughton's being sacked, so we came down here.
"I like the fact that we got to see him and got a chance to say goodbye because he's been the best manager that I've seen here."
Alan Curbishley has emerged as a bookies' favourite to take the vacant spot - but fans slammed the idea of appointing the former West Ham United boss.
Stephens added: "What's Curbishley gonna do that Hughton can't? The only reason I can just about see this happening is if a decent manager is coming in, but not Alan Curbishley. What's he ever done?"
John Shearer, 49, a full-time carer from Byker, who claims to be a cousin of Toon legend Alan Shearer, said: "He did the big job, he beat Sunderland didn't he? Any manager who did the big job shouldn't be sacked.
"I would've kept him. But you can't go and beat the big clubs then lose against the little ones like West Brom. These supporters won't put up with it."
Supporter Stephen Denison, 38, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I cannot believe it - he brought us back up and we were beating Chelsea and Arsenal, then all of a sudden you play West Brom and get beat and you're out.
"It's not fair - you have to give him a chance. He's done well in the Premier League, it's not his fault, he's on coppers really. He's got no money to spend, he just had to get on with it."
And as sacked Hughton left the stadium, looking thoroughly dejected, he was given a round of applause by Toon supporters.
Hughton took Newcastle back to the Premiership in one season under his 18-month spell as manager, but left St James's Park with his bags packed.
Lifelong Newcastle fans Tom Stephens and Joe Benns thanked Hughton and shook his hand before he was driven away in a black Lexus saloon.
Tom, 19, said: "Thank you Chris, I'll never forget you."
Hughton replied with a simple "Thank you."
As the dejected manager was driven away, the two fans clapped.
Wearing a Newcastle top, Tom, a student from Jesmond, said: "I was nearly in tears. It's horrible isn't it?
"To do this to someone who's stuck by the club and kept with the boys, got the boys back up.
"He should have been given another two years. What's he done wrong? He's lost a few games in a season that's been mental and horrible for everyone.
"It's disgusting of the club – when will we start to learn? We've done this so many times before - we did it with Keegan and we got relegated.
"Are we going to get relegated again? How many chances do you want? It's just ridiculous.
"Ashley has to go – no one likes him – I don't know why he's staying, what's the point? Just sell the club, get out of here, no one likes you.
"People absolutely hate him – there's no reason why he should stay, he thinks he's the big Godfather of the club.
"But the fans are the most important people and they wanted Hughton to stay, it's horrible."
Benns, 20, also a student from Jesmond, said: "We were just coming to Shearer's bar to try and spend our vouchers and we got a text saying Hughton's being sacked, so we came down here.
"I like the fact that we got to see him and got a chance to say goodbye because he's been the best manager that I've seen here."
Alan Curbishley has emerged as a bookies' favourite to take the vacant spot - but fans slammed the idea of appointing the former West Ham United boss.
Stephens added: "What's Curbishley gonna do that Hughton can't? The only reason I can just about see this happening is if a decent manager is coming in, but not Alan Curbishley. What's he ever done?"
John Shearer, 49, a full-time carer from Byker, who claims to be a cousin of Toon legend Alan Shearer, said: "He did the big job, he beat Sunderland didn't he? Any manager who did the big job shouldn't be sacked.
"I would've kept him. But you can't go and beat the big clubs then lose against the little ones like West Brom. These supporters won't put up with it."
Supporter Stephen Denison, 38, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I cannot believe it - he brought us back up and we were beating Chelsea and Arsenal, then all of a sudden you play West Brom and get beat and you're out.
"It's not fair - you have to give him a chance. He's done well in the Premier League, it's not his fault, he's on coppers really. He's got no money to spend, he just had to get on with it."
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