TIME IS UP FOR HAUNTED McCLAREN
NEWCASTLE United would not survive with Steve McClaren in charge. They will struggle to do so with anyone else, even if David Moyes arrives this week, as is likely when McClaren surely goes. The former England boss wore the haunted look of a man who wants to be sacked following Saturday’s home defeat to Bournemouth, the latest horror show in an X-rated season. The only positive he could draw, in the wake of a ninth loss in 12, was that ‘there are 10 games remaining’. The subtext? ‘That’s enough time for someone else to keep them up’. Since the moment he walked in the door — or rather, was smuggled in a secret entrance to keep the club’s preferred media partners happy — he has flattered to deceive, to deceive of his shortcomings as a manager, for no one disputes his excellent coaching credentials. Only now has everyone woken up to the nightmare which has been unfolding since managing director Lee Charnley celebrated victory in his six-month pursuit of the sacked Derby County boss in June. That he has not sought to address his error of judgment before now does not reflect well on him, either. Charnley is the school governor who made a mistake and appointed the PE teacher as head, desperately hoping that Ofsted wouldn’t come calling. On Saturday, owner Mike Ashley sent in his own inspector, PR guru Keith Bishop. He only travels to the North East when there is a crisis. There’s been a lot. It is not the first time Bishop has taken a seat in the directors’ box this season. For McClaren had been on the brink before. Each time, however, his team had won. On reflection, those victories came at a cost. They have delayed sacking a man who has been cheating dismissal ever since the eight-game winless start to his tenure. It has left them second from bottom with a points tally of 24, four worse off than when they were last relegated in 2009 and their lowest at this stage in Premier League history. Sir John Hall, the former chairman whose club nearly won the title under Kevin Keegan 20 years ago, says it is time for McClaren to go. ‘I’m like every fan, I’m utterly depressed that we’re in a relegation battle again,’ he said. ‘We shouldn’t be there. If I was Mike Ashley, I’d be tearing my hair out. He’s put money in to buy players and they’re not gelling.’