Mike Ashley's hopes of selling Newcastle United have been dealt another blow following the withdrawal of interest of potential buyers the Profitable Group and Sky Bet customers have been quick to latch onto the negativity on Tyneside by backing the Magpies to be relegated.
Sky Bet have slashed the odds of the Toon suffering successive relegations to 14/1 (from 33/1) and they have also been popular to finish bottom in the handicap market, prompting Sky Bet to cut their odds to 12/1 (from 18/1).
Sky Bet no longer make Newcastle favourites to win the Championship and they are out to 6/1 (from 9/2) third favourites behind north east rivals Middlesbrough (5/1) and West Brom (11/2). Their odds of achieving a top-half finish have also been eased to 1/3 (from 1/5) following support for them to finish in the bottom half (2/1 from 100/30). Sky Bet have also shifted the line on Newcastle's total season's points from 76.5 to 70.5 and eased them to 2/1 (from 7/4) to beat West Brom (11/10, draw 9/4) in their first match of the season.
Sky Bet's Mike Triffitt said: "With the uncertainty surrounding the management and ownership of the club, coupled with last weekend's embarrassing 6-1 defeat at Orient, punters have been quick to oppose Newcastle in every market and there remain very few positives for the club at present."
Alan Shearer is now 11/10 with Sky Bet to lead Newcastle into the Championship next month, with interim manager Chris Hughton 6/4 still to be in charge on August 8th.
Striker Obafemi Martins is keen to quit Newcastle for Wolfsburg and Sky Bet make him an even money chance to join the German champions this summer and 2/1 to line up at St James' Park.
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