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Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias quit in a row over a player to become the first victim of Joe Kinnear's controversial reign.

The Mirror can reveal Llambias resigned just hours after being forced to pull the plug on signing FC Twente defender Douglas.

Kinnear, appointed as director of football on Tuesday, claimed he had never heard of the Brazilian player.

Now, the Magpies' highly-respected chief scout Graham Carr could be the next to go.

It is believed Carr is considering his future after being told he must report to Kinnear.

Llambias is understood to have spent months lining up a Bosman-style free transfer for 25-year-old centre-half Douglas, who was linked with Newcastle as far back as last summer, and a deal was in place.

But Llambias - called "Llambezee" by Kinnear in one of the radio interviews carried out to mark the former Toon manager's return to St James' Park in a new role - did a sudden U-turn on Tuesday night and was forced to tell Douglas that the deal was off following Kinnear's intervention.

Kinnear - whose appointment has caused astonishment - sounded out former FC Twente boss Steve McClaren, because he was not aware of Douglas.

This even though the player has been at one of Holland's leading clubs for six years, turning out for them in the Champions League against teams such as Inter Milan and Tottenham and as they reached the last eight of the Europa League in 2010-11.

Hours later, Llambias offered his resignation.

It is clear he did not feel he could carry on working under Kinnear.

Llambias was one of manager Alan Pardew's big supporters and backed him when owner Mike Ashley became concerned last season as Newcastle flirted with relegation.

Carr is Newcastle's ace talent spotter and has been responsible for unearthing some of their most successful signings, but Kinnear has insisted he now is in charge of transfers.