Steve McClaren sends relegation warning to Newcastle board over transfer policy

Newcastle have a strict policy of investing in youth which McClaren fears

STEVE McCLAREN has warned Newcastle's board he cannot guarantee Premier League survival unless there is a major shift in the club's transfer policy.

 

The Newcastle manager fears the current squad lacks the characters to avoid another relegation scrap.

Matters came to a head in the wake of last week's 3-0 debacle at the hands of Leicester with a series of heated exchanges on the training ground between management and senior players.

McClaren will resist sweeping changes for their trip to Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace.

 

But he has threatened several senior players, including skipper Fabricio Coloccini and French international Moussa Sissoko, with the axe unless their form improves.

Among McClaren's recommendations to owner Mike Ashley and chief executive Lee Charnley is a change in Newcastle's policy of only buying players who are 24 or younger.

His pleas fell on deaf ears in the summer but McClaren has become increasingly dismayed at the lack of leadership in the dressing room.

 

Charnley and Ashley have adopted a policy of only buying players under 24

And he has told his bosses an influx of experienced players, preferably with Premier League pedigrees, is required to prevent a slump turning into yet another full-blown Toon crisis.

The Newcastle manager is willing to sell Sissoko, who has blown hot and cold this season, but knows the final decision does not rest with him.

He is also considering reviewing the captaincy situation with Coloccini having come in for fierce criticism for his lack of visible leadership on the pitch.

 

Newcastle splashed £50m in the close season but of the new recruits only Chancel Mbemba and George Wijnaldum have been successes.

Wijnaldum was poor against Leicester but McClaren has been impressed with his attitude and sees the former PSV Eindhoven skipper as a future Toon captain.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has faded after a bright start and would be left out this weekend if the manager had more faith in Papiss Cisse.