NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness was clinging to his job last night as chairman Freddy Shepherd began to pave the way for his dismissal.

And, as if the feverish speculation over his future was not bad enough for the Scot, he was also dealing with the fall-out from yet another injury blow. Influential midfielder Scott Parker, who has been one of the club's few successes this season, underwent knee surgery yesterday and will be sidelined for more than a month.

Whether Souness is still at St James' to oversee his return, though, is now a moot point. Shepherd has spent the last 48 hours pondering his manager's future following Monday's dismal 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough and is understood to harbour grave reservations about the tenability of his position.

The pair held a discussion yesterday and, while that focused on potential transfer targets rather than Souness' future, that does not mean his position is safe.

Souness, who was absent from Tuesday night's reserve game because of family business, has told close associates there is no way he would tender his resignation despite the persistent calls for his head during Monday's match.

The key question for Shepherd is whether he is willing to stump up the £3m in compensation that would accompany any dismissal.

Souness was told he would have to generate the funds needed to pay for new recruits before the start of a disastrous Christmas period that included defeats at both Liverpool and Tottenham.

The need for new blood became even more acute when Michael Owen broke his metatarsal on New Year's Eve and, with Parker also now nursing a long-term problem, every penny will be needed if the club are to wheel and deal their way out of trouble this month.

Sacking Souness would hardly help the situation, although there is enough financial slack to fund a staggered payment schedule should he be axed.

Recruiting a replacement is an equally pressing concern. Shepherd sacked Sir Bobby Robson on August 30, 2004, and it was more than a fortnight before Souness began work as his replacement.

With Glenn Roeder currently in charge of Newcastle's Academy - the former West Ham boss sat alongside Shepherd during the New Year's Eve defeat at White Hart Lane - the Magpies boast a ready-made caretaker replacement in their ranks.

But, while Roeder would be willing to step into the breach, Shepherd is adamant he will not sack Souness without a long-term plan in place. Despite the incessant speculation over what might happen next, that is not the case at the moment.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has been mentioned as a possible successor to the Scot and sources in Lancashire insist he is genuinely interested in a move to Tyneside.

Tellingly, though, Allardyce is currently involved in heated discussions with his chairman, Phil Gartside, to secure the funds needed to replace the five players he will lose to the African Nations Cup. A successful resolution to the talks would almost certainly tie him to the Reebok Stadium.

Allardyce would be a controversial choice anyway as he ruled out a move to St James' in the wake of Robson's dismissal. Having seen his club spurned once, Shepherd would be understandably reluctant to offer the Bolton boss the opportunity of a re-think.

Wigan's Paul Jewell is also understood to be under consideration but, until the Newcastle board are confident of securing a long-term successor, Souness will remain in his post.

The Magpies manager is expected to be in control for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Mansfield, although it is inconceivable that he would retain his position should United fail to beat the League Two side.

Whatever happens before the weekend, Parker will not be at St James' as Newcastle look to keep their only hope of silverware alive.

The England international, who has missed just three Premiership games since making a £6.5m move from Chelsea in the summer, injured his right knee in last month's 4-2 win at West Ham.

The club's medical staff had hoped the problem would settle down with further rest but, instead, the 25-year-old travelled to London yesterday for surgery. The operation will keep him on the sidelines for up to five weeks, exacerbating a midfield situation that is already at crisis point.

Lee Bowyer is suspended for Saturday's FA Cup clash, Amdy Faye is due to fly to Senegal this morning ahead of the African Nations Cup and, while Newcastle officials have made a last-ditch attempt to delay his departure beyond the weekend, their pleas seem certain to fall on deaf ears.

While Faye will be back in England by the middle of February, another Newcastle midfielder finally completed his permanent departure from the club yesterday.

Laurent Robert has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Benfica after completing a free transfer to the Portuguese giants.

The 30-year-old, who is now eligible to face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan at the start of the season. When Pompey boss Harry Redknapp deemed him surplus to requirements, the Magpies agreed to cancel his loan, enabling him to join Benfica. The free transfer marks a £10.5m loss on the fee Newcastle paid Paris St Germain in 2001.

* Bookmakers Pagebet reported a huge move for Souness yesterday to be the next Premiership manager to go. He was 2/1 in the morning but crashed to 4/5 last night.

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