By Sportsmail Reporter
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To the joy of Newcastle fans around the world, the club have begun the process of tearing down the Sports Direct signs to return the club's historic name: St James' Park.
There was outrage when the club announced a sponsorship deal with the sportswear retailer which included the naming rights to the stadium to end 119-years of history in the city.
And anger directed at Mike Ashley - owner of both club and retail giant - in a move the fans regarded as running roughshod over the iconic heart of the city.? ?
Good riddance: Newcastle fans will be pleased to see the back of these signs
Newcastle fans were quick to express their delight at the news on Twitter.
One Magpies supporter, ?@JeromeWalcott, said: 'Thank God St James Park has reverted back to it's rightful name. Should never have happened in the first place.'
And @SJ_NUFC simply said: 'The beauty that is St James' Park, is once more! #NUFC.'
Controversial new sponsors Wonga.com have recently signed a ?32million four-year shirt and stadium sponsorship deal.
The deal does not start until next season, but the club have immediately pulled down the Sports Direct signs and restore the St James? Park name.
The original lettering is due to be restored for Newcastle?s next home game, in the Europa League against Club Brugge. The move is a victory for supporters who have refused to acknowledge the change to the Sports Direct Arena.
However, Toon army are furious with plans to have the short-term loans company's name emblazoned on the front of the famous black and white stripes.
And one local MP has threatened to boycott the Wonga Arena if Ashley renames the stadium for a second time as part of a three-year deal worth a reported ?8m a year.
Controversy: Many fans have expressed unease at new sponsors Wonga
The controversial company, already sponsors of Championship club Blackpool and top Scottish side Hearts, have been labelled a 'legal loan shark company' for offering short-term loans at an APR of 4,214 per cent.
But Newcastle boss Alan Pardew told Sky Sports News he was thrilled with the decision to revert back to the original name last week
He said: 'I'm a romantic, so the stadium change last year hurt me and hurt our team. It's one of those business decision that you can't get your head around at times as a football person.
'I made a point of saying that the same sign should go up, not a new one, the same sign, 'St James' Park', and I'm absolutely overjoyed with that.'
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