Abuse in the toilets - the perils of being a Mike Ashley lookalike in Toon

And of course, all the threats and abuse that go hand-in-hand with looking like the most unpopular person on Tyneside since , well, Dennis Wise.

That's the horror scenario confronting lifelong Toon fan Alan McKenna, whose striking resemblance to the hated Newcastle owner have seen him become an unwilling body double resulting in verbal abuse in the St James's Park toilets and physical abuse in a Durham eaterie.

Spot the difference: Mike Ashley (left) the Toon owner and unfortunate lookalike Alan McKenna

Restaurateur McKenna, a married father-of-two, from Low Fell, said: 'As soon as I walked through  the door of Chicago Rock Cafe in Chester-le-Street, I was approached by two guys.

'One of them said: "Are you the owner of Newcastle United? ". I knew there was going to be trouble because they seemed drunk and aggressive. They weren't joking about it.

'I just laughed, trying to make light of the situation, and said: "No."

'But one of them said: "You f***ing liar," and went to throw a punch at me. He didn't manage to hit me because a couple of the lads I was with wrestled  him away.

'I was shocked, I couldn't believe that someone would do that. But now it keeps  happening.'

Just a week later, at last Saturday's home game against Hull, Alan was accosted in  the toilets at St James' Park by another unhappy fan.

'I went to the toilets and while I was in there a guy came up to me and said:  "How did you get in here you sneaky fat b*****d?" I can't believe he called me that,  I'm not even that fat!'

It's not only disgruntled fans that have seen the likeness between the two men - Ashley himself has come face-to-face with his mirror image and was impressed with what he saw.

What's a man to do? Toon season ticket holder Alan McKenna has had enough of all the abuse

McKenna added: 'I met Mike Ashley in a lift at St James' Park last season. I said to him: "I know what you are thinking Mike, I think you are handsome as  well."

'We had a bit of a laugh and I met him again a couple of weeks later at the  Fulham game. He was in a box and recognised the lad I was with in the lift. He went over and asked: "Where is your cheeky friend?"

'I was downstairs in the Bamburgh Suite. My restaurant, McKenna's at the Northern Stage in Newcastle, had sponsored that game and Mike came down to chat  to us.

'He stayed for about an hour-and-a-half, talking and having pictures taken. Mike was winding some girls up, saying that I was his brother. We had a laugh  - he is a nice bloke and he has got a good sense of humour.

'Even his PR team had their pictures taken with me because they couldn't  believe how much I looked like him.

'I have been mistaken for Mike Ashley quite a lot even though I don't think we  are that similar.

'When he was popular, people would often come and pat me on the back if I was  walking through Newcastle, telling me what a great job I was doing. But now the abuse has really started.

'Just the other day, I was having my photograph taken outside my restaurant  when some builders across the street shouted: "Ashley, you are a f***ing c***."

'I think I'm going to have to get a Newcastle shirt with "I'm not Mike" on the back. I never used to mind looking like Mike Ashley - but after all this abuse, I've changed my mind!'