Newcastle say 'no rash decisions' over Steve McClaren regime
Friday 25 September 2015 13:20, UK
Newcastle's managing director says there will be "no rash decisions" following the club's poor start under Steve McClaren.
McClaren is yet to oversee a Premier League win since succeeding John Carver in the summer, and Championship Sheffield Wednesday this week won at St James' Park to end Newcastle's Capital One Cup hopes.
That defeat was met with boos from the home supporters, who had been promised their side would take the domestic cup competitions more seriously than in recent seasons, and left McClaren admitting Newcastle were "very close to a crisis".
But Lee Charnley has now written to fans promising a "collective" response and effectively ruling out any immediate threat to the manager's position.
He said: "There is no hiding from the fact that this has been a very disappointing start to our Premier League campaign, and a painful early exit from a cup competition that we were determined to give everything in this year. We apologise to you for this.
"It is important to state that we bear collective responsibility for our position in the table. Identifying the problems in order to find the solutions is crucial, but we are not in the business of apportioning blame. We are a team, from the boardroom to the boot room, and we will respond like one.
"So we have sat down as a collective - myself with Steve and his coaching team, and Steve with his players - to discuss the concerns and to look for the solutions together.
"Whilst we are all unhappy, we must not panic or make rash decisions. We should not forget we are still relatively early into the season with lots of games to go and points to play for.
"Whilst you may be tired of hearing this, I believe, as we have said from the start, all of this rebuilding and reshaping isn't something that can happen overnight; it will take time to see the benefit of the changes we made during the summer."
Charnley admitted supporters were within their rights to "express dissatisfaction at the results" but called for backing from the stands ahead of Chelsea's visit on Saturday Night Football.
He said: "I hope those of you attending on Saturday, and at future games, home or away, will really get behind the team and help give them the confidence to play and express themselves the way we know they can.
"We don't have the time nor the inclination to feel sorry for ourselves. That would not serve us well. We are all in this together and we will get out of it together as a team."
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