Ashley Sees Allardyce The Last Link With Shepherd!

Last updated : 02 December 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

And poor Sam Allardyce is the last link with the "old regime" and is reportedly on the verge of being sacked as manager of Newcastle, to sever all connection.

Sam, like Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder before him, was Freddy's choice for manager ... and not the choice of the supporters. It is cruel to say it, but it is without question a fact.

Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn heaped more pressure on the beleaguered Toon boss and several of Sunday's newspapers report he may now be just one defeat away from the sack.

The Ewood Park setback was Newcastle's fourth loss in five matches and a home defeat to league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday night could result in the end of Allardyce's reign at St James' Park after just six months.

The Sunday Times reports defeat would "almost certainly see Allardyce lose his job, and Alan Shearer take over the coaching role".