A petition demanding Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley stops “exploiting” the club and allows manager Rafa Benitez to invest properly in the team and the training ground has been presented to the House of Commons.

The petition was delivered by Newcastle Central’s Labour MP, Chi Onwurah, who has clashed with Ashley before over the way he runs the club.

The petition comes just a few days after supporters launched the 'If Rafa Goes, We Go' campaign that warns Ashley they will boycott the club if he does not create the working conditions needed for Benitez to stay on as manager.

Benitez has turned down the offer of a new contract this summer as he wants to see proof of Ashley’s ambition. However, the sport shop billionaire is refusing to back the Spaniard in the transfer market until he signs an extension to the deal that expires next summer.

It is an infuriating and self-harming stand-off, but neither man seems willing to budge on their negotiating position which means the Magpies are effectively having to sell to buy.