Steve McClaren: 'Would I quit? No way'

Steve McClaren's tenure at Newcastle may come grinding to a halt, but the Magpies boss says it won't be because he quits.

Languishing in 19th following a dismal 3-1 defeat to Premier League newcomers Bournemouth at St. James' Park, McClaren and his players were serenaded by a chorus of boos from the Toon Army faithful.

Though a pre-match statement from Newcastle players vowed their support for the former England boss, McClaren doesn't appear to put much value on it when the team is poised for its second demotion in eight seasons.

"The statement's irrelevant," McClaren told reporters. "If we play like that we're not going to stay up. That wasn't good enough. We're very lucky it (potential survival) is still in our hands. This is the most frustrating team I've ever had."

"Would I quit? No way," he said. "I don't do that. I have enough experience. I've been through this with chants like that (calling for his head). That's the perils of being a manager - and especially of this team."

McClaren may not have to quit as pressure on chairman Mike Ashley nears its boiling point, prompting the near-certain dismissal of the former Derby County boss - whether it comes now, with nine matches to play, or at season's end.

"That's for other people to decide. You'll have to ask them (the board), I can't control that but I hope I'll be here next week," McClaren offered.

With Aston Villa destined for relegation, sitting bottom on 16 points, Newcastle faces a battle with local rivals Sunderland and Norwich City to survive the drop. Both Newcastle and the Canaries are on 24 points, one adrift of Sunderland.

Survival or not, Magpies supporters appear to have had enough of the free-spending McClaren.

"I can understand why they think that. I can understand their frustration," McClaren said. "I'm as angry and frustrated as the supporters. Today was poor. Today was not acceptable. There weren't enough characters out there."