While Newcastle United's management team stay silent, it's been left to caretaker boss Chris Hughton and Michael Owen to attempt to explain the goings on of the past week.

Hughton, in today's match programme, said: "Nobody needs me to tell them that the last fortnight has been a difficult one for everyone connected with Newcastle United.

"Following the departures of Kevin Keegan and Terry McDermott, I was asked by the board to take temporary charge of first-team affairs.

"That has meant working with the players and getting them ready for today's game against Hull City.

"And that has been my sole focus over the past week.

"I've been assisted this week at the training ground by Academy director Richard Money and Alan Thompson, not to forget goalkeeping coach Paul Barron.

"All of us have been in football long enough to know you have to deal with whatever challenges come your way. And the same applies to the players."

Owen, in his programme notes, said: "Whatever the events of the past couple of weeks off the field, all the players are proper professionals, we are all paid to do a job, and we have to go out and continue to do that job.

"The only thing the players can do is play to their best and get good results for the club, and we have to focus on doing that."