NEWCASTLE UNITED fans believe television bosses have showed the club 'a lack of respect' on top European nights this season.

Despite their enthralling Champions League campaign the Magpies have only been shown on terrestrial channel ITV1 once this season - the 2-1 home win over Dinamo Kiev on October 29.

And Sir Bobby Robson's men have been snubbed again tomorrow night for their must-win match at home to Bayer Leverkusen at St. James' Park.

The Mag fanzine editor Mark Jensen insists Newcastle's followers have been hard done by at times on their European adventure.

"It's a little bit of a lack of respect on their behalf," said Jensen. "Liverpool were knocked out in the first phase and they have been on twice.

"I suppose they could argue that Liverpool have more armchair supporters than Newcastle, but I bet if the majority of the neutrals were asked who they would rather watch they would say Newcastle.

"If you take individual games like the Newcastle versus Juventus game, that should have been on for sure."

Tomorrow night's clash with Leverkusen will again be shown on digital channel ITV2. Newcastle's previous Champions League matches have been screened on ITV2 or the ITV News Channel.

And the broadcaster admits they have chosen Manchester United and Arsenal matches instead because they are regarded as the 'big two'.

"I don't think anyone would disagree that Arsenal and Manchester United are regarded as the two biggest teams in this country," said ITV spokesman Gary Double.

"The game we show is decided on which are deemed to be more enticing to the public in the UK.

"However, ITV2 and the ITV News Channel have both been showing the other games and they are available in more than ten million homes in this country."

Double also claimed that Newcastle's supporters have a better chance of watching their club in Europe on the box than they do when they play in the Premiership.

"Newcastle have been a little unfortunate because they have had to go head to head with Manchester United and Arsenal," he added.

"In the first phase of the Champions League they played on the same night as Manchester United and in the second phase they went head to head with Arsenal.

"But I must stress the point that Champions League games on ITV2 and its News Channel are available to more homes than live Premiership matches on Sky.

"The Sky package is only available in around 6.5 million homes so I still think Newcastle have been shown a great deal."

* Northampton manager Terry Fenwick has been sacked after just seven weeks in charge of the Division Two strugglers.

He took control of just seven games for the Cobblers during which they lost five and drew two.

Assistant manager Martin Wilkinson will take over as caretaker-manager with Northampton 23rd in the table. Acting chairman Ken Good said: ''Directors are often criticised for not listening to the supporters but we know when something is not working."

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