This was not just the day the Toon Army rediscovered their pride the passion had never gone away this was the occasion which rewarded the understated efficiency of an unassuming, unpretentious Londoner who carved himself a permanent niche in Newcastle United folklore.

Chris Hughton started life on Tyneside as part of the so-called Cockney Mafia, a hated regime which could not have been more out of touch with the clubs fan base had it advocated showjumping at St James Park.

Yesterday he was the subject of adulation from the packed stadium as the handing over of the Championship trophy cemented the 51-year-old managers relationship with the Geordies.

The glorious spring sunshine provided an appropriate backdrop to the festivities; only the possibility of an anti-climactic return to the Premier League next season could cloud the celebrations.

That will only happen if Mike Ashley spurns this opportunity to win back whatever stripes he had with the army.

If the owners best intentions foundered on a succession of administrative blunders which ripped the soul out of the club, he should be congratulated for finally choosing a manager who breathed life back into it.

After joining the coaching staff 26 months ago primarily to work on the defence, Hughtons promotion came on the back of a lemming-like rush of back-room staff out of the door.

He was named caretaker manager in September 2008 because it was a straight fight between him and, well, the caretaker! He lasted two defeats before Joe Kinnear came in as an apparently more permanent stand-in but with a contract that was not sturdy enough to grant him his own parking space.

As the team hurtled towards relegations, Kinnears heart surgery thrust Hughton, by now assistant manager, back in temporary charge until Ashley wilted under supporters pressure by bringing in Alan Shearer and his No 2 Iain Dowie over him.

Bob Cass (Mail Online)