• New name will be used until the end of this season • Club admit naming rights plan was handled badly

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

Newcastle have confirmed that their stadium will be renamed "sportsdirect.com@StJames'ParkStadium" until the end of the season, according to BBC Newcastle.

The temporary rebranding follows a controversial announcement from the club's under-pressure owner Mike Ashley that the ground's naming rights would be offered to businesses in an attempt to raise funds.

The managing director Derek Llambias told the BBC: "We will showcase Sports Direct until the end of the season. I'm sure we're going to get a sponsor in for next season."

Llambias admitted that the way the plan to sell naming rights was put to fans could have been handled better, but said the decision was important for the club's future.

"We could have worded it better, and that's why we came out yesterday to explain what we're trying to achieve," he said.

"With the renaming it was always going to be whatever brand it was, at St James' Park. For the remainder of this season, we already have sportsdirect.com on the Gallowgate so we'd like to take that branding through the rest of the stadium."

Llambias said that any future naming deal would still include the phrase "@StJames'Park".

"In our reign, absolutely, it's just adding to the name. If this brings in a good chunk of money to the club, that goes straight to the team, so it's a revenue we should look at."