SAM Allardyce is set to make Joey Barton his first signing as Newcastle United manager.

Allardyce is expected to seal the capture of Manchester City's controversial midfielder once he has sanctioned Scott Parker's proposed £8.5m move to West Ham later today.

Barton indicated he was happy to remain at Eastlands on Saturday but, with no indication from the City boardroom that they want their troublesome star to stay, he has accepted his career at City is now over.

He said: "If the club decided that they don't want to keep me and they want to accept an offer then so be it.

"I've got to look after Joey Barton and my family as well."

Barton says he will be leaving the club he joined as a schoolboy with a heavy heart but added that a move to Newcastle does excite him.

He added: "At this moment I haven't been given permission to speak to anybody.

"But, having played for Manchester City, I'd find it hard to go to a club without an equally passionate support.

"What Sam Allardyce achieved at Bolton without a big budget was fantastic.

"Newcastle United are a big club and who knows what he can achieve there?

The future looks very exciting."

The 24-year-old, who was the club's top scorer with seven goals last term, leaves the managerless side under a cloud.

He was suspended by former City boss Stuart Pearce prior to the end of last season following a training ground bust-up with Ousmane Dabo, which left his team-mate requiring hospital treatment.

But this is only the latest of a long line of misdemeanors and the club have decided enough is enough and will allow the one-cap England international to join the Magpies for £5.5m.

Allardyce, who took in Wales' European qualifier with the Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, also hopes to tie up deals for Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka and Bolton's out of contract defender Tal Ben Haim this week.