Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce's future could be decided in the next ten days.

The Independent says the news from the top floor at St James' Park is that Allardyce's position is safe - for now. However, should Newcastle's form continue to deteriorate against Chelsea and Manchester City in the coming six days, then Sunday week's FA Cup third-round tie at Stoke City will be pivotal to Allardyce's future on Tyneside. Lose that and it is difficult to see how chairman Chris Mort and the Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, can stand by Allardyce.

Allardyce has unquestionably lost a majority of Newcastle fans, while his public questioning of his players' attitude after the Wigan game was matched by his private dressing-room address in the moments after the match. It is understood Allardyce asked his players whether he still had their support.

The general response is not known definitively, but recent displays do not convince that the team is in total agreement with the manager's tactics or his selection.