Newcastle United: Steve McClaren to be sacked 'within 24 hours'

Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren is set to be sacked by the club within 24 hours, reports say. The former England manager has been summoned to a meeting with the Newcastle hierarchy at St James's Park on 8 March, where he is expected to be relieved of his duties.

The Daily Telegraph claimed McClaren had privately informed friends that he expected to leave the club within 24 hours. Newcastle's board is under pressure to act after the club stumbled to their third straight league defeat against Bournemouth at St James's Park on 5 March.

The Magpies have 24 points from 28 league games – their lowest points tally at this stage in the Premier League era. Only rock-bottom Aston Villa are below them in the league table.

McClaren was widely expected to be sacked on 7 March but was offered a temporary reprieve as the club assessed potential replacements.

David Moyes, Brendan Rodgers and Harry Redknapp are all in the running to take over at St James's Park, according to the Telegraph.

'Outdated playing style'

Newcastle's latest defeat was followed by their official fan forum releasing a strongly-worded statement condemning the management of the club and the players.

"Someone has to be accountable and decisions must be made," the BBC quoted the letter from the NUFC Fans' Forum as saying. "What Newcastle fans want is a team of 11 players in black and white shirts that understand their role to perform to their maximum – week in, week out. We have entrusted the board of NUFC to ensure that the right personnel are in place to carry out this basic expectation.

"Whilst we have 10 games to go, fans cannot accept the current work ethic of the players," it continued. Our players frequently look jaded and our playing style often appears outdated. We lack organisation and the players continue to lack discipline."

McClaren, 54, joined Newcastle on a three-year contract last summer after being sacked by Derby County in May.

The Magpies face a daunting trip to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City in their next league assignment on 14 March.