And in a bid to fulfil their betting obligations, Paddy Power will be shelling out nearly £70,000 to happy members of the Toon Army who backed their team.
The odds of a Toon league victory were slashed yesterday to 1/14 – just seven months after starting the season as 5/1 favourites for the title.
Newcastle sit thirteen points clear of third place with a game in hand and have been given odds of 1/100 to make an instant return to the Premier League with automatic promotion. Their closest rivals, West Brom, are 13/2 for the title.
Paddy Power said: “Newcastle have been head and shoulders above everyone this season and surely not even another one of St James’ Park’s infamous soap opera incidents can derail their victory march now.”
Newcastle, currently unbeaten in the league at St James’ Park, are now just 2/5 to remain undefeated at home this season.
But next season the Tyneside outfit are 15/2 to again be relegated but 4/5 to finish above rivals Sunderland.