A businessman linked to a buy-out of Newcastle claims he too would consider selling the naming rights of St James' Park if he was in charge of the club.

Barry Moat had been linked with a takeover of the Coca-Cola Championship side earlier this year but owner Mike Ashley has taken it off the market after he could not find anyone willing to meet his £80million valuation.

Since then Ashley has taken the controversial decision to officially rename the club's home sportsdirect.com@St James' Park in a bid to attract sponsors wishing to attach their brand to the ground, with Sports Direct being the sportswear firm owned by Ashley.

It was another generally unpopular move by Ashley in the eyes of supporters, but Newcastle businessman Moat insists it is something which most clubs have to consider.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think you have to explore things like naming rights, you have to do that.

"Unfortunately we live in a world where football is big business, and the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is getting bigger all the time.

"So you have to do things to close that gap. We need to get back up to the Premier League as quickly as possible. I think if you have to do some of those things, by taking the commercial benefit of a sponsor, then as far as I'm concerned if that gets the right players on the pitch, gives you the right entertainment on a Saturday, then where do I sign?"