Time runs out on Souness

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer was today asked to help lead the fight against relegation after Graeme Souness was sacked as manager.

The 35-year-old will link up with caretaker boss Glenn Roeder, who has stepped up from the role of the club’s Academy chief, to take charge of the team against Portsmouth on Saturday.

The ailing Magpies will be looking for a first league victory in seven attempts after a dismal run which has seen them slip to within six points and three places of the drop zone.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd made his move this morning as Souness’ 17-month reign was brought to a close after another dreadful display in last night’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.

"Newcastle United today announced that the employment of Graeme Souness has been terminated with immediate effect," the Magpies confirmed in a statement. "Glenn Roeder will take charge of first team affairs for the immediate future. Roeder will be assisted by captain Alan Shearer and will be caretaker manager for Saturday’s home Premiership game against Portsmouth at St James’ Park."

Souness’ departure became inevitable as results in the face of a dreadful injury crisis slumped dramatically and the fans left the 52-year-old Scot in little doubt as to their feelings.

He was tipped to lose his job at a breakfast time meeting with chairman Freddy Shepherd two days after the 1-0 Premiership defeat by Blackburn at St James’ on January 21st, which sparked a lengthy demonstration, but emerged from talks later that day insisting he still had Shepherd’s full support.

However, despite safely negotiating a tricky FA Cup fourth round trip to League Two Cheltenham at the weekend, the debacle at Eastlands left Shepherd with little option.

Indeed, the belief on Tyneside was that, had it not been for the #5millon severance package due to the manager and his coaches or the absence of a credible replacement, it would have happened much sooner.

Today’s developments sparked fevered speculation over who will replace Souness, with Bolton Sam Allardyce immediately installed as favourite by the bookies, but Martin O’Neill the name on the lips of many supporters.

However, Shepherd, who has handed his latest manager around £50million with which to rebuild his squad, knows he must get it right this time after a difficult period for the club. The chairman has always insisted that the Scot was the only man to whom the job was offered after Bobby Robson’s departure in August 2004, although both Allardyce and Steve Bruce were sounded out.

And the fact is that for many supporters he was never the right man to fill the post — a view that was not altered by a 14th-place finish last season and meek departures from the latter stages of both the Uefa and FA Cups.

Injuries hampered Souness throughout his reign and at times this season robbed him of seven key players at any one time, including new boys Michael Owen, Scott Parker and Emre and influential midfielder Kieron Dyer.

However, the football has been dull, at times the organisation has been sadly lacking and, defensively, it has been shambolic despite the recruitment of £8million Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Roeder’s first task will be to restore balance and confidence to his team, and as Robson had to six and a half years ago, attempt to create a supply line for Shearer, whose club record 201st goal cannot come quickly enough.