Source: Daily_Mail
Northern Exposure: Time is running out for the north-east's big three to avoid relegation
The song at the end of Newcastle's latest home defeat was The Smiths `There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'.It could have been another 80s hit from Morrissey and co because suddenly this joke of a season isn't funny anymore for the North East football writers.The three big clubs, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough may still be able to pull in almost 100,000 supporters between them for home games, but none of them can seriously expect to sustain those numbers if they are relegated.[LNB] [LNB]Feeling the pain: Nicky Butt and Kevin Nolan suffer during Newcastle's defeat to Arsenal[LNB]Only West Brom's inevitable demise will prevent all three North East 'sleeping giants' from the ignominy of Championship football for at least next season. Don't believe me? Check the league table, check their run-ins.Newcastle fell in to the bottom three for the first time since November following Saturday's spirited defeat to Arsenal, but they have been in freefall since the dreadful Boxing Day performance at Wigan.[LNB] More from Colin Young... Newcastle 1 Arsenal 3: Wenger backs Newcastle to beat the drop22/03/09 Owen shock as Hughton drops Newcastle striker for key battle20/03/09 Ferdinand back to face City as Sbragia targets Sunderland revival20/03/09 Middlesbrough work on training ground plan to thwart Rory's rockets at Stoke20/03/09 Geordies fear new dark age as anniversary party could turn into wake19/03/09 Time is running out to save Newcastle from disaster, admits Hughton16/03/09 Middlesbrough 1 Portsmouth 1: Southgate urges Boro to pull together 15/03/09 Returning Owen is the man to lift St James' and help keep Newcastle up13/03/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Joe Kinnear's absence has not helped but that is just one of the many problems which have engulfed the club even before Kevin Keegan walked out. Whether he likes it or not, Mike Ashley could be about to see the value of the club decrease even further and pay the price for his running of it.Kinnear is expected to resume his duties within a month and anyone who has encountered the dogged old soul will not be surprised at his determination to put another heart scare behind him.After losing his beloved Wimbledon job after a heart attack before a game at Sheffield Wednesday, Kinnear has struggled to get or hold down a job. At the heart of his opening foul-mouthed tirade at journalists was his anger at articles which suggested he might not be fit enough for the St James's Park hotseat.[LNB] Firing up: Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear is currently recovering from heart surgery[LNB] TODAY'S POLL Who has been the star man for Newcastle this season?[LNB]VOTE POLL RESULTS Close All polls Click to view yesterday's poll results So it is a sensitive subject but there have to be concerns about how a man who is currently recuperating from serious surgery can be expected to take a full hands-on role in Premier League management, with so much at stake.[LNB] TODAY'S POLL Who has been the star man for Sunderland this season?[LNB]VOTE POLL RESULTS Close All polls Click to view yesterday's poll results But Newcastle desperately need leadership. Away from the technical area, where he can be a lively spectator, caretaker manager Chris Hughton has to be one of the politest, most decent men in football. And to his credit, unlike his players, he has not shied away from fronting the questions of Newcastle's malaise.[LNB] TODAY'S POLL Who has been the star man for Boro this season?[LNB]VOTE POLL RESULTS Close All polls Click to view yesterday's poll results But he cannot win football matches. One win in the 11 in charge is a terrible record, and although they were unlucky against Arsenal and Manchester United, they have been alarmingly lacklustre when it's mattered.In my experience, the current crop of Newcastle players do not like criticism, and they have had plenty of that in recent seasons. That means they also don't like the truth, but they have to face up to it in the next eight games, or they are doomed.[LNB] Mr Nice Guy: But caretaker boss Chris Hughton cannot win a game[LNB]On the bench: For Michael Owen to start scoring, he needs to be playing[LNB] Kinnear and Hughton have been severely hit by injuries to their under-manned squad, but key players are returning, albeit in Michael Owen's case, in the unexpected capacity of substitute.The Newcastle captain may not be not match fit, but he can hardly show his unquestionable goalscoring prowess from the bench, Middlesbrough are in even deeper trouble, and Sunderland looked safe a month ago but suddenly cannot win a game to save their Premier League wages.Ricky Sbragia steadied Roy Keane's ship at first, but now it is sinking. Niall Quinn must be praying it is not without trace.[LNB]Steadied the ship: Ricky Sbragia settled things down at Sunderland, but now needs to start getting results[LNB]But you can't help feeling that Keane walked out for a very good reason, and Quinn knows only too well that he was rarely wrong about football matters.Sunderland and Middlesbrough fans won't appreciate hearing Newcastle would be the biggest loss to the Premier League for the rest of the country, and for its North East football correspondents.Keane was Box Office, put the club on the map to an unprecedented degree, but whether Quinn likes it or not, with him gone it has lost its national, and Irish appeal. Sbragia has offered tranquility but now needs to get results. Even then, he could be replaced by another big name.Losing one legend was careless. Losing two in Keegan was a nightmare but no matter who is in charge at Newcastle, the club sustains its national appeal, if not simply because it has become such a fascinating, depressing and jaw-dropping soap opera for so long.But as Leeds have discovered, the column inches and TV air-time dry up outside the Premier League and only Newcastle's increasingly fit and influential players can prevent that happening.[LNB] DES KELLY: For Middlesbrough's sake it's time to go, Gareth SouthgateToon big to go down? Don't bet on it - Newcastle face going the way of Man City, Forest and LeedsASH WEDNESDAY: Magnificent Michael will retire as Ordinary Owen[LNB] [LNB]
