Newcastle fans vent Joe Kinnear fury

Joe Kinnear was spared an angry reception as Newcastle fans met to discuss a turbulent week on Tyneside.

The 66-year was unable to attend the meeting of NUFC Fans United, to which he had been invited at short notice, as he got together with chief scout Graham Carr to discuss the club's summer transfer business.

It was left to close friend and former Newcastle schoolboy player Eddie McIntyre to fight his corner in front of a rebellious audience at Newcastle Labour Club this evening.

McIntyre, who was repeatedly heckled, said:

Around 230 fans, comprising a coalition of different supporters' groups, packed into the concert room at the club, which lies in the shadow of St James' Park, less than a week after the club confirmed that Kinnear had been handed the role of director of football.

McIntyre tried manfully to defend Kinnear, and admitted he regretted his comments in an ill-advised and now infamous radio interview last week.

McIntyre was unable to win over a largely hostile crowd, but was applauded for his courage in turning up as he sat down.

The Irishman may not have been in attendance, but Wendy Taylor, head of media, and supporters liaison manager Lee Marshall, who have been attending the organisation's meetings for the last year, were.

Neither spoke, but they were there to report back what was said to the club's Board.

More than 500 questions were submitted in advance by fans via twitter, Facebook and e-mail, many of them surrounding Kinnear's controversial return to St James' Park.

Kinnear, however, was not the only target as supporters also vented their fury on club owner Mike Ashley, whose decision it was to install him above manager Alan Pardew and Carr.

Indeed, one of the groups represented, the Mike Ashley Out Campaign, proposed a motion calling on the sportswear tycoon to sell the club, something he has previously tried and failed to do twice during the six years he has owned it.

The motion, which was put to a show of hands, was carried by a sizeable, if not unanimous, margin.