Former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has accused owner Mike Ashley of running the club "from another planet".

The Magpies face a second Premier League relegation in the space of six years this afternoon should results go against them on the final day, including their own meeting at home to West Ham United.

Supporters are due to stage another protest at St James' Park after the game, regardless of the outcome, and Keegan has nothing but sympathy for the Toon Army.

"It is not difficult to work out unless you come from another planet and I think Mike Ashley runs that club from another planet," the 64-year-old, who had a high-profile falling out with Ashley before resigning in 2008, told BBC Sport. "Fans are being treated with such disrespect.

"It is almost as if Mike Ashley has said, 'what is the worst I can do, change St James' Park and call it Sports Direct'. Incredible. Fans don't want to go to games, they want to protest. The answer is not to boycott the game, but to get through the season, stay up, hope and pray someone with lot of money who cares about the club comes along and says, 'that's for me'.

"They need to sit down with sensible people, not those that Mike Ashley put around him in the past. I had the misfortune to work with some of them. It is not just me urging him to go, everybody connected with that club, even people employed there. It is time for a change."

Ashley is not expected to be present at today's game as he attempts to avoid those fans angry at the way that he is running the club.