Alan Shearer's devastating attack on Newcastle '“ a club 'in a mess from top to bottom'

Fans called for head coach Steve McClaren to be sacked during yesterday's embarrassing 3-1 home loss.

And Shearer, manager when the club was last relegated in 2009, feels McClaren is in "massive trouble".

But Newcastle's all-time record goalscorer feels there are also other problems, notably the recruitment overseen by chief scout Graham Carr.

"McClaren is in massive trouble – he has to take his fair share of the blame – but the whole club is in a mess, from top to bottom," he told the BBC's Match of the Day.

"If that's a performance from the players to say they are backing the manager, they are in trouble.

"There is no statement of intent on the pitch from the players, and there are no academy players coming through.

"Chief scout Graham Carr holds most of the power when it comes to players coming in and out.

"The team lacks character, leaders. They can't score goals and there was a £15m striker ([Aleksandar Mitrovic) who sat on the bench today.

"That tells you where the problems lie – everywhere."

Co-pundit Martin Keown added: "I think McClaren is an excellent coach, but not a manager. He looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

"With managers like David Moyes, Brendan Rodgers and Rafael Benitez around, he's in trouble."