NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd called time on Graeme Souness' spell as manager of the Magpies yesterday - by sacking him in a letter.

After weeks of speculation regarding Souness' future, Shepherd bowed to the inevitable and relieved him of his duties.

In a sign of how far the relationship between the men has deteriorated in the past few months, he delivered the news in a letter rather than face-to-face - and the pair are still to speak to each other directly.

With Souness about to take charge of a morning training session at the club's Benton base, he was handed the letter informing him of his dismissal.

Shepherd then drove to the training ground to address the players and confirm the caretaker appointment of former academy coach Glenn Roeder and skipper Alan Shearer.

The pair will be in charge for tomorrow's Premiership home game with Portsmouth, a match the Magpies can ill afford to lose in the wake of Wednesday's defeat at Manchester City.

A club statement confirmed: "Newcastle United have announced that the employment of Graeme Souness has been terminated with immediate effect.

"Glenn Roeder will take charge of first-team affairs for the immediate future following the departure of Souness. Roeder will be assisted by captain Alan Shearer and will be caretaker manager for Saturday's home Premiership game against Ports-mouth."

Former Middlesbrough and Liverpool midfielder Souness was a controversial appointment when Sir Bobby Robson was sacked in August 2004.

It did not take him long to anger the club's supporters, with the sale of fans' favourites Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert proving particularly unpopular.

The £16m summer signing of Michael Owen threatened to buy him more time but, when he was injured on New Year's Eve, Newcastle's fortunes took a nose-dive.

The Magpies have not won in the Premiership since December 17 and Souness leaves with only 16 wins from his 56 league games in charge of the club.

In a statement, he said: "I have enjoyed living and working in Newcastle, and my family and I have been made to feel particularly welcome by the Geordies. I wish the club, the players and the supporters good fortune and success going forward."

Shepherd had previously shied away from sacking Souness in an attempt to avoid the £5m compensation that is now due to the manager and his backroom staff.

But his mood changed in the wake of last month's home defeat to Blackburn when 200 demonstrating fans were dispersed by mounted police.

The majority of supporters have backed the chairman's actions. But, as the club searches for its sixth permanent manager in nine years, there is an acknowledgement that a succession of unsuccessful appointments needs to be brought to an end.

Frank Gilmore, spokesman of the Newcastle United Independent Supporters' Association, said: "I would say that the vast majority of the supporters would be happy, but we need to get things right now."

Neither Roeder nor Shearer can take charge of the Magpies for more than 12 weeks because they do not possess the Uefa coaching qualifications demanded by the Premier League.

Shepherd has given the duo his wholehearted backing but the search for Souness' permanent successor has begun. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is top of the betting with England boss Sven Goran Eriksson also believed to be under consideration, along with former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, Wigan boss Paul Jewell and Birmingham chief Steve Bruce. Comment - Page 1