Ferguson caused outrage among the Toon Army when he described Newcastle as a "wee club in the North East" during his recent spat with Magpies boss Alan Pardew.
It has to be said, it was always a battle of words between the managers, and not a slur on the fans.
Pardew may come to regret it, because Ferguson has helped him throughout his managerial career, and burning bridges shows the pressure Pardew finds himself under.
The Newcastle boss needs all the friends he can muster, and Ferguson is a powerful friend to have at the other end of a phone.
Sir Alex Ferguson: "It was never my intention to belittle Newcastle fans.
"I want to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen over what I said. I have nothing but the highest regard for Newcastle fans and I always have had.
"They are up there with the best supporters in the game.
"Their passion, commitment and fervour have never wavered, even though they have had little to celebrate.
"They have turned up in numbers to get behind their team wherever and whenever the games have been played.
"When I take a team to St James' Park, I have stressed to the players that not only have they got to beat the opposition on the field, just as important is coping with the atmosphere created by the fans.
"Sadly, results have not matched their loyalty.
"If Newcastle's achievements had matched the support of the people who pay to watch them play, the club would be among the game's giants.
"It's tragic that they haven't been able to win a league title for over eighty years.
"Among the criticism (from Newcastle fans) there were also messages from people who feel they have been let down by the club and that it has not matched their own ambitions for success."
Don't Call Him A Mackem!
Gateshead have announced that their assistant manager post will be filled by former Sunderland and Oxford star David Rush.
The 41-year-old spent five seasons on Wearside, where he made 70 appearances and scored 12 goals before his move to Oxford United.
A homegrown Mackem, who''s talent went to his head at Roker Park.
His club nickname ''Trigger'', clearly indicated that Rushie mustn’t have been the sharpest tool in the box.
He fully cemented this theory by declaring ''he would never play for Sunderland again'', after impressing top flight clubs in the 1992 FA Cup run.
However, when the big clubs never came, Rush was left to face a Fulwell End barracking and a dream move to erm... Oxford United.
During his time at Oxford he chinned a Mag in a chip shop who called him a "Mackem".
It was a strange court case, because the judge had to decide if the term "Mackem" was derogatory.
The judge did research and found it to be a shipbuilding term, and not derogatory at all.
Gateshead official website: "Gateshead have today announced that former Sunderland and Oxford United striker David Rush has joined the club as assistant manager.
"The 41-year-old former team-mate of new Gateshead boss Anth Smith played in the 1992 FA Cup final against Liverpool for hometown club Sunderland."
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
Saturday January 12 2013 15:00 v Norwich City (A)
January 19 2013 15:00 Reading (H)
Tuesday January 29 2013 19:45 v Aston Villa (A)
Saturday February 2 2013 15:00 v Chelsea (H)
Saturday February 9 2013 12:45 v Tottenham (A)
Thursday February 14 2013 v Metalist (H)
Thursday February 21 2013 v Metalist (A)
Saturday February 23 2013 15:00 v Southampton (H)
PREMIERSHIP
NEWCASTLE 1 EVERTON 2 (Cisse)
Krul, Perch (87' Ranger), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (65' Bigirimana), Anita, Tiote (79' Sammy Ameobi), Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier, Abeid
ARSENAL 7 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ba 2, Marveaux)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Coloccini, Perch, Santon, Obertan, Bigirimana (82' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Marveaux (88' Tavernier), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Sammy Ameobi, Mehdi Abeid, Streete.
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (Perch, Evans og, Ba)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Perch, Bigirimana (65' Obertan), Cisse (79' Sammy Ameobi), Ba (71' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier,Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita, Tiote (77' Marveaux), Perch, Gutierrez (60' Obertan), Ba, Cisse (61' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Tiote (74' Marveaux), Anita, Gutierrez, Cisse (79' Shola Ameobi), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Gutierrez, Tiote (86' Bigirimana), Anita (86' Marveaux), Ben Arfa (70' Shola Ameobi), Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 3 WIGAN 0 (Ba 2 - 1 pen, Bigirimana)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (49' Ferguson), Marveaux, Tiote (46' Bigirimana) Anita, Gutierrez (75' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Shola Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier
STOKE 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita (87' Sammy Ameobi), Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (87' Ranger).
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Ferguson, Tavernier
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor (90+1' Perch), Williamson, Santon, Anita (66' Marveaux), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (46' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
FA CUP
BRIGHTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Perch (46' Dummett), Williamson, Santon, Anita, Abeid (46' Ranger), Bigirimana, Obertan (71' Marveaux), Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi
Subs: Krul, Amalfitano, Ferguson, Campbell
EUROPA LEAGUE
BORDEAUX 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Williamson (74' Coloccini), Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Bigirimana, Ranger, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi (46' Anita) Shola Ameobi (80' Cisse)
Subs: Krul, Simpson, Romain Amalfitano, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Ameobi, Obertan.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.