Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has denied reports of a furious row with Joey Barton after the defeat to Wigan.

"We had a few words because he was disappointed about being left out when I didn't think he was fit enough to play, but it has been blown up out of all proportion," said Allardyce.

The Newcastle boss says he is convinced that he knows the identity of the dressing-room mole he claimed gave the story about a row to the Press.

"I have no proof but a very good idea who it was," said Allardyce, adding darkly: "I just want him to know that I know."

Allardyce does admit that Barton's arrest has contributed to an atmosphere of negativity that is engulfing St James' Park.

"It does nobody any good," he said. "In this situation we have to be positive. There is no pessimism behind the scenes. The results may not have gone our way but our performances have been better than people give us credit for.

"It was never going to be an overnight job here. It is important that supporters get a clear picture of what the club is capable of in the short term and have the patience to accept that the famine that Newcastle have gone through for years in terms of results will not end in a season.

"There are no instant cures. Success has to be built over a period. I believe I am putting a structure in place which will serve the club well in the years to come.

"We are competing with clubs who are spending more than ever before. We had to do some short-term buying in the summer. Some have worked, others haven't, but there were players at the club who came here for big money but had no residual value when it came to moving them on.

"Their departures did not generate money to spend in the transfer market but our net spending deficit is still only £9m, which is low when you compare it with other clubs.

"Clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have benefited from signing young players and developing them through their system and we've started to do the same.

"We want to exploit that kind of market to be able to produce first team players of the future. But it has to coincide with an improvement in your current senior players.

"We have some very good players at Newcastle but, for different reasons, principally the absence of the more experienced ones for long periods, we have been unable to make the impact we are capable of."