Steve McClaren’s position as Newcastle United’s head coach is again under severe scrutiny after the team’s defeat away to Stoke City on Wednesday, with some sources at St James’ Park suggesting that the former England manager will face dismissal if his side lose against Bournemouth tomorrow.
Newcastle stayed second bottom of the Barclays Premier League after their 1-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium — their seventh consecutive reverse away from home.
Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director, was considering dispensing with McClaren, who joined the club on a three-year contract last summer, in early December, but successive wins over Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur consolidated McClaren’s position.
Newcastle spent over £28 million in the transfer window, but McClaren has overseen only two victories in their past 12 fixtures in all competitions.
With Charnley making three attempts to hire McClaren before his arrival, there has been a reluctance to have more change but Mike Ashley, the owner, does not want to miss out on next season’s television deal.