Former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall says the club simply hasn't been good enough this season.

Ahead of yesterday's relegation, Hall told BBC Radio Five Live: "The team is not good enough.

"They have lost too many home matches. It's a sad state of affairs. They haven't got a good team.

"Some of the buys have not been very good. I'm just hoping and praying like every other fan that we stay up."

Leeds were relegated from the Barclays Premier League in 2004, three years after appearing in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and in 2007 they went into administration, leading to them being relegated to League One.

"I don't think it's as bad as Leeds," he said. "If they go down, it might take them two or three years to rebuild the team and get out of the Championship.

"But the club is too strong to be in Leeds' situation."