Disgraced former Newcastle United directors Mr Douglas Hall and Mr Freddy Shepherd yesterday mounted a campaign to return to the board of the Premier League plc.

Mr Hall's Cameron Hall Developments, which owns 57 per cent of the club, has proposed that the two former bosses be reinstated.

The pair want to replace their representatives on the board, Mr John Fender and Mr Tom Fenton.

While the move will go before a vote of shareholders, Mr Hall's holding combined with the 8.1 per cent owned by a trust run by Mr Shepherd means the pair can easily elect themselves back onto the board.