Magpies profits flying high

Newcastle United today announced a significant increase in profits – giving officials a welcome boost after the weekend’s ugly scenes when team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for fighting each other.

Although the Magpies appear to be in turmoil after the defeat to Aston Villa, the club made a £5.1m (€7.4m) profit in the six months leading up to January 2005, an increase of £4.5m (€6.5m) from the previous six months.