Newcastle United hero Warren Barton fears for the club if they're relegated this season.

The Magpies are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone after Saturday's dire 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.

"I don't want it to be like a Leeds United where you disappear for 13 years," Barton told Sky Sports.

"It scares me that this could happen and I feel for the people up there.

"The players have to take it, they get paid as do the manager and the owner, but they have had their time. I just feel for the people up there because it means so much to that area.

"They work so hard to support their team and for that to happen to this group of fans, and this region, would be devastating - particularly after the pandemic.

"If they go down, I dread the worst. It would be a disaster for everybody. People would lose their jobs in this environment, you can look at the players who will leave and it is a great area, a great football club with great people.

"They have got to go out there and give everything, the players and I echo what I said. Someone needs to grab it by the scruff of the neck as a group of players and make sure we aren't going down."