A supporters group for Newcastle United Football Club has won its bid to protect the club’s home ground of St James’ Park in case the stadium is ever put up for sale.

The application by the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has seen the local council label the club’s home since 1892 as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), meaning the group has the right to bid for it if owner Mike Ashley decides to sell.

"The importance of St James' Park to Newcastle United is known throughout the world," said a NUST statement. "This means St James' Park cannot be sold without the local community being told about it, and them being given the opportunity to bid for it themselves."

Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium was the first football ground to gain ACV status in 2013 and since then several fans’ groups have won similar community asset rulings, including Manchester United’s Old Trafford and Liverpool’s Anfield among others.

Now St James’ Park has been labelled an ACV, if the stadium is put up for sale, NUST has the right to lodge a bid for the ground within a six week period, and has four-and-a-half months to secure funding.