The deputy chairman of Newcastle United and boss of a company which has debts of �28m, has taken a �249,000 pay rise.

Douglas Hall, the son of Gateshead MetroCentre developer Sir John Hall, took the rise, although his company, Cameron Hall Developments, recorded pre-tax losses of more than �74m.

Everything in the Cameron Hall empire is now up for sale, including Wynyard Hall, the stately home on Teesside bought by Sir John in 1987.

Company accounts, submitted six months late, also show Douglas Hall received a further �250,000 for renting out part of Wynyard Hall.

Douglas Hall took over from his father Sir John

The company was fined �1,000 by Companies House for submitting late figures.

They show Douglas Hall, the firm's chairman, and executive director at Newcastle United, increased his salary from �78,000 to �327,000.

The accounts reveal the company struggled with massive losses and debts because of Newcastle United's falling share price and a slump in the property market.

Figures also show Douglas Hall ran a personal expense account, which at one stage was more than �667,000 in the red, although the debt was reduced to �22,000.

Mr Hall is also shown to have bought five cars from Cameron Hall, with the company recording a loss of �58,000 on the deal.

It then bought one of the cars back from Mr Hall for �200,000.

Company assets

Douglas Hall hit the headlines in 1998 when he was reported to have allegedly made disparaging remarks about Tyneside women.

In a directors' report, Mr Hall says Cameron Hall Developments has undergone an internal review to work out ways of reducing debts.

The accounts reveal that Cameron Hall's assets stood at �12.2m in November 2000, a big drop on 1999's �70.8m figure.

Earlier this month it emerged the Hall family home at Wynyard, near Stockton-on-Tees, had been put on the market for �8m.

No-one from Cameron Hall Developments could be contacted for comment.