Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd is concerned over a lack of backup plan following Alan Pardew's departure to Crystal Palace.

Shepherd expressed surprise at how United have been left without an immediate replacement.

He was renowned for his jetsetting approach when it came to getting transfer targets or new managers.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I always had a revolving door situation at Newcastle. We always had somebody. It was one out, one in. That was the way we always looked at it.

"John (Carver) has been given a very hard task to work with somebody else's team. Every manager has his own people and players he likes to bring in."