Steve McClaren's sacking is likely to be

Doomed Newcastle manager Steve McClaren remains in the job on Thursday night as the club negotiate the terms of his exit.

The Magpies hierarchy have held talks with Rafa Benitez who is set to replace McClaren in the St James' Park dugout.

The 54-year-old will leave Newcastle after just nine months in the job with the club facing the threat of relegation to the Championship.

A stoney-faced McClaren was pictured leaving Newcastle's Darsley Park training ground on Thursday where he received a reassuring pat on the back from long-serving security guard Graeme Crombie, affectionately known as 'Tash'.

Steve McClaren receives a pat on the back from security guard Graeme Crombie as he leaves the training

Rafa Benitez is set to meet with Newcastle United officials on Thursday before his appointment as manager

McClaren took training with the players in preparation for their game against Leicester on Monday

McClaren leaves the training ground and climbs into a black Audi waiting outside

McClaren arrived at the club's training ground on Thursday morning and took training

MCCLAREN'S RECORD AT NEWCASTLE AND BENITEZ'S CV Steve McClaren's record at Newcastle Matches played in all competitions: 31 Wins: 7 Draws: 6 Defeats: 18 Goals for: 32 Goals against: 56 Premier League position: 19th Points: 24 Biggest win: 6-2 Norwich City Biggest defeat: 6-1 Manchester City Recent form: Three straight defeats Rafa Benitez's managerial CV 1993–1995 Real Madrid B 1995–1996 Valladolid 1996 Osasuna 1997–1999 Extremadura 2000–2001 Tenerife 2001–2004 Valencia 2004–2010 Liverpool 2010 Internazionale 2012–2013 Chelsea (interim) 2013–2015 Napoli 2015–2016 Real Madrid Advertisement

Informal talks with Benitez have been taking place over the past few days after Newcastle's board – minus McClaren – agreed during a secret meeting in York on Monday that the Spaniard was the man they wanted.

Managing director Lee Charnley has led the discussions and the arrival of the former Real Madrid boss will be something of a coup for the club chief, who has been under pressure to make an appointment to rescue their Premier League future after McClaren's disastrous reign.

Newcastle are prepared to make concessions with Benitez, and that will include dispensing with their 'head coach' model.

There will also be a significant financial incentive for achieving Premier League survival, with 10 matches remaining for Newcastle to secure their top-flight status.

The former England manager climbs out an Audi car as speculation regarding his Newcastle future intensified

This could well be the last time McClaren visits the Newcastle training ground as manager of the club

The 54-year-old ex-Middlesbrough boss greets door staff with a smile despite being on the brink of the sack

McClaren (pictured on Wednesday) was meant to meet Lee Charnley but it was put off

The relationship between the fans and McClaren has diminished, with his position becoming untenable

The Premier League's bottom six teams

Summer budgets have been mentioned during talks, suggesting that Benitez sees a move to the North-East as a long-term project as opposed to a fire-fighting role.

Benitez also wants to bring his own backroom team, and that should not be an issue.

It will prove a massively popular appointment and Benitez, should the deal hit no snags in the next 24 hours, will take charge of his first home game against Sunderland a week on Sunday.

Benitez, who was sacked by Real this season, could now be installed ahead of Monday's trip to Leicester City

Benitez will have 10 matches to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with the club one point from safety