"Over the last five months or so there has been a lot of speculation regarding a change of ownership for Newcastle Rugby Ltd," said Thomson.

"During that time I have engaged in talks with three different parties. I don't know if it's the current economic situation, or the geographical area we are in, but those three sets of negotiations have failed to come to a conclusion.

"In light of that, I have taken a decision that the club had to be stabilised, that we have to get rid once and for all the various rumours and media reports, which is why I have made this announcement today."

Newcastle currently sit 10th in the Guinness Premiership and were knocked out of the EDF Energy Cup at the group stages but Thomson believes his decision to commit himself to the club could be the positive news the Falcons need to move forward in 2009.

"The constant speculation has had a negative impact on the team, and I want to end it now by saying that I will continue as majority shareholder to give the club the stability it needs.

"The club is not going to get taken over and I am committing myself to Newcastle Falcons. This coming February it will be ten years since I started with the Falcons, and I believe there is a strong future for us here. I know where we are in the league right now, but I have enormous faith in this club and am here to say that the 'for sale' signs have been taken down.

"That is important for the squad, because some of the things that have been said in the press and in the various bits of gossip around the place have just taken off that little bit of edge that you need as a rugby player.

"Players are a very funny breed. They need to know they're standing on rock and not sand, to feel comfortable in their environment. They want to feel very secure and tight, and maybe my own statements over the past few months have not helped that. What I'm doing now is ending the chatter, putting a stop to the media reports and giving the players that security.

"I told the players my decision in the changing room straight after the final whistle at Worcester last Friday, I said 'sorry lads, you're stuck with me for a lot longer and you're just going to have to live with that', but at least now they know where they stand and it just removes any doubt."

Newcastle host London Wasps in a bottom of the table clash this Friday, with the sides separated by just two points in the league standings. A win would see Newcastle leapfrog Northampton into ninth spot in the Premiership but defeat, coupled with a Bristol victory at home to London Irish, would see them prop up the table with more than a third of the season played.