The long-running feud between three regional titles and one of football’s most famous clubs has erupted again – with loyal fans pitched into the middle of the row.

The Chronicle – one of three Trinity Mirror-owned titles banned from the home of Premier League Newcastle United – has leapt to the defence of supporters of the one-time footballing aristocrats.

The Newcastle daily has gone back on the attack for the ‘shameful treatment’ of the game’s most passionate fans after Saturday’s 4-0 mauling of the Magpies by Southampton.

The potential thawing of positions in the stand-off between the two sides – including discussions to resolve the breakdown of the relationship – appear to all but evaporated after the Chronicle’s front page ripped into the club and its key figures for their latest actions.

Under a splash headline ‘Blamed, Abused. Ignored’ – the paper set about extolling the virtues of the club’s fan base who “turn out in the sort of numbers which many rival club chairmen could only dream of.”

The Chronicle’s editorial comment inside said: “As the situation at Newcastle United nears crisis point, we say that this is a shameful way to treat the most loyal and passionate fans in football.

“Saturday showed more than ever just how much the fans are now treated with little more than contempt .

“The supporters who travelled to the other side of the country to follow their team were blamed by the manager, abused by club coaches and remain ignored by club bosses.”

The club’s shabby performances had now resulted in manager Alan Pardew turning on the fans for the failings on the pitch, the paper argues.

“And we have the unedifying spectacle of assistant manager John Carver confronting those fans, while goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman becomes embroiled in a Twitter spat,” it added.

The paper’s editorial complained that club owner Mike Ashley “remains silent, never explaining, never informing.”

And the owner and his men have “continually disabused fans of the notion that this is in some way their club, a people’s club. It is now very much his club – to do with as he likes,” said the Chronicle.

The paper admitted that although next Saturday’s home game at St James’ Park will see the usual full house – the club should “understand why” fans may be ready to vent their feelings from the terraces.

Mal Robinson, the new editor of football for TM’s North-East titles, had previously been hopeful that fresh dialogue with the club could see a return to pre and post-match press conferences and access to match-day facilities for reporters at the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun.