Newcastle United players turn up heat on owner Mike Ashley over Chris Hughton

Captain Kevin Nolan and team-mates Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi enthusiastically endorsed Hughton's managerial credentials in the wake of the 5-1 humiliation of Sunderland on Sunday and called upon Ashley to secure his services on a long-term basis.

"I find it quite surprising that we are talking about Chris and his job," said Nolan following his hat-trick against Sunderland. "What he's had to put up with over the last couple of weeks he's dealt with magnificently.

"He's shown he's a top-class manager, and he will get there slowly but surely. It's been quite upsetting on our behalf, a bit infuriating. We feel, with the job he's done, he deserves a fair crack at this league.

"What he's doing is the right thing, and for people to be talking about trying to change it after 18 months and get another manager is just scandalous and ridiculous.

"As a club, we're together, and I think people who are outside of Newcastle don't like to see that. That's the big reason we're together. We all want the same thing – to be back where we belong."

Hughton's deal expires at the end of this season and, following a frenzy of rumours over his future, his paymasters have told him that they will sit down to discuss a new deal at the turn of the year.

Ashley is not expected to change his plans to hasten talks despite witnessing the biggest Tyne-Wear victory since 1956 but Barton has made it clear he would prefer an end to the uncertainty.

"Hopefully the club will come out and get him tied down to some sort of deal and put it all to bed," Barton said. "If it ain't broke, there's no need to fix it, for me.

"At the minute it certainly ain't broke and although we're in a tight league, the way we're playing and performing and the consistency on a regular basis is good. What was nice against Sunderland was when the fans were singing his name.

"The job he's doing is fantastic. For there even to be an inkling of speculation over his future is ridiculous."

Ameobi helped silence Hughton's doubters with two goals against Sunderland, then said: "He needs to be give time to achieve what he wants to achieve here. As players we're fully behind him and we showed that."

Newcastle have moved to stress that the club are not for sale following reports that former chairman Freddy Shepherd is considering making a bid to buy the club back from Ashley.

St James’ Park officials issued a statement following claims that Shepherd, who sold his holding in the club to Ashley in 2007 after the Hall family had sold up, is ready to return.

The statement said: “There has been unfounded speculation suggesting that Freddy Shepherd intends to put a consortium together in a bid to buy Newcastle United FC from owner, Mike Ashley.

“The club can confirm that it has not received any contact from Freddy Shepherd expressing an interest, nor is the club for sale.” The Shepherd camp also moved quickly to play down the suggestion.

Ashley has put Newcastle up for sale twice, but took them off the market for the second time last season.

Meanwhile, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn apologised to the club's supporters following the derby.

"It is entirely appropriate that we apologise to our fans," said Quinn."Whilst acknowledging the hurt this defeat has caused, I would like to emphasise that everyone at this club will face the music together."

Quinn continued: "While everybody here is suffering, the players' hurt must be galvanised into a big performance on Saturday [against Stoke]. We are confident that the solution will be found within the walls of our dressing room."

England striker Darren Bent echoed Quinn's sentiments, stating: "We are all sorry about the result, which was a bad one for everyone concerned.

"It's important someone came out and apologised to the fans, who are the people who pay money to watch the games.

"We let a lot of people down. We know the fans are hurting and believe me, the manager and the players are hurting as badly as you are. We will be doing everything we can to put it right."