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BREAKING NEWS: Steve McClaren sacked as Newcastle United manager

| 11.03.2016
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Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | March 11, 2016

McClaren leaves Magpies

Steve McClaren has been sacked as manager of Newcastle United following a run of three successive Premier League defeats.

A 3-1 reverse at St James’ Park by Bournemouth intensified pressure on former England and Middlesbrough boss McClaren, who won just seven of his 31 matches in charge of the Magpies across all competitions.

That home loss left Newcastle a point from safety with an inferior goal difference of -25. Only rock bottom club Aston Villa possess a worse tally.

“We acknowledge that reaching this decision has taken a number of days and that this has caused uncertainty for everyone involved, in particular for Steve and the players,” said an official club statement.

Relegation scrap goes on

Coral offer an odds-on price of 4/7 for the Toon to lose top-flight status and be relegated for the second time in Premier League history, but the Magpies are also 5/4 to stay up.

Rafael Benitez File Photo

Widespread media reports claim ex-Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez is the preferred option to take over on Tyneside, with former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes the previous market leader to replace McClaren.

Other potential candidates based on the next Newcastle manager betting at this very early stage include former Newcastle caretaker Nigel Pearson and Tim Sherwood with both out of work.

McClaren was backed in successive transfer windows since being appointed by controversial Magpies owner Mike Ashley in the summer, with spending on player recruitment in excess of £80m for this season.

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Barclays Premier League - White Hart Lane

DR Congo defender Chancel Mbemba, Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and creative France player Florian Thauvin, now loaned back on old club Marseille, have been among the expensive under-performers purchased by the Toon.

Must-win games on horizon

Since coming from behind to beat Tottenham on December 13th, Newcastle have picked up just eight points from a possible 36. Their only wins of 2016 have come against West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion, both at home.

The Magpies face key relegation six-pointers either side of the Easter international break against bitter Wearside rivals Sunderland and then Norwich City. They then play fellow Premier League strugglers Swansea City and Crystal Palace at home during April.

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Author

Jamie Clark

Athletics aficionado, die-hard snooker fan and Crystal Palace supporter Jamie has written for Coral since February 2014 after spells with Soccerlens and the Press Association as a digital journalist and copywriter. A former East Midlands sports correspondent and Bwin tipster, he is a graduate of both the University of York and University of Sheffield, with a Masters in web journalism from the latter.