Steve McClaren Sacked as Newcastle Manager: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Steve McClaren's ill-fated spell as manager of Newcastle United has been brought to a merciful end after owner Mike Ashley dismissed the former England boss with the Magpies mired in the Premier League's bottom three.

News of McClaren's departure came via a Newcastle club statement on Friday:

"

After the defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday the Club has spent some time considering its position and has today concluded that Steve McClaren's employment with the Club will end with immediate effect.

We acknowledge that reaching this decision has taken a number of days and that this has caused uncertainty for everyone involved, in particular for Steve and the players, for which we apologise. However we felt that this time was necessary to ensure the right decisions were reached with the best interests of the Club at heart.

"

McClaren released a statement on the decision, via Ben Curtis of the Daily Mirror:

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I am obviously very disappointed with the decision.

I appreciate any frustrations relating to the team’s results and the club subsequently finding itself in a battle to avoid relegation. I remain confident, however, that we would have stayed in the Premier League with a view to building for next season.

Whilst there has been a lot of intense speculation surrounding my position over recent days, my sole priority has been to maintain my professionalism and carry on with my work to best prepare the team.

I would like to place on record what a privilege it has been to manage Newcastle United Football Club. It is a great a club - the embodiment of the city, with incredible supporters.

I’d also like to thank Mike Ashley and the Board for giving me the opportunity to manage the club, and the staff and players for their loyalty and efforts.

For every supporter of Newcastle United, I genuinely hope the club can produce the results I believe they are capable of, between now and the end of the season, to maintain their Premier League status.

Newcastle United is a club that must build for the long term to deliver what the supporters deserve – success and silverware.

"

His sacking has been inevitable for some time now and the Guardian's Ian Prior strongly questioned the manner in which it was carried out by the north-east club:

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A week-long sacking must be the most humiliating process imaginable for any manager, whatever platitudes Newcastle now spout

— Ian Prior (@ianprior) March 11, 2016"

Pressure has mounted on McClaren in recent weeks, with the Magpies unable to pull clear of the Premier League relegation zone. They currently occupy 19th place, one point behind local rivals Sunderland, who are in 17th, having played a game less.

Recent reports have suggested former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez is the man in line to take up the reins at Newcastle, per Spanish outlet AS (via Spanish football writer Guillem Balague):

Things never really clicked for one-time Middlesbrough chief McClaren on Tyneside, with poor recruitment, abysmal defending and an inability to instil spirit into his squad undermining his stint in charge.

Several new faces failed to impress, particularly in attack. Dutch creative midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is a major talent, but he is yet to consistently deliver in England's top flight, particularly away from St James' Park. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic can be a menace for any defence, but he's often too temperamental to make his ability count.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

McClaren even dropped his £13 million forward for consistently misfiring, according to Lee Ryder of the Newcastle Chronicle.

The manager's summer imports also struggled to fit alongside some of the quality players already at his disposal. He never found the right combinations to craft what should be a decent attack from newbies Mitrovic and Wijnaldum alongside incumbents Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and the brilliant Moussa Sissoko.

January signings Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Henri Saivet, who McClaren paid a total of £28.5 million for, have also failed to make an immediate impression.

Problems at the back have been common since the start of the season. In fairness, though, McClaren wasn't helped by an injury suffered by Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul, normally one of the league's more solid stoppers.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Maintaining harmony within the squad became McClaren's biggest challenge, and ultimately, his costliest failing. Reports of bust-ups at the training ground were common, according to Matthew Smith of Sky Sports.

McClaren couldn't keep control of the distractions, and the result is a team seemingly unable to escape the relegation fight. It's a situation that demands steadying the ship, something that could tempt Ashley into appointing a more pragmatic manager.

There's talent at the club to go with a fanbase desperate for success, but finding the right formula, both on and off the pitch, has stumped more than a few managers.

McClaren has become just another name in a long list of dugout casualties during Ashley's tenure.