Manager Steve McClaren is teetering on the brink after such poor form

The Magpies were defeated 1-0 by Stoke City on Wednesday night

Newcastle are currently 19th in the Premier League table

Senior Newcastle players cannot believe head coach Steve McClaren is still in charge and they expect him to be sacked should they lose at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Sportsmail can reveal that McClaren and his backroom team are fast losing the trust of their squad and that several of the French contingent have even organised their own private recovery sessions away from the club and without permission, such is their preference for their own methods.

And sources have told us that disgruntled players – including experienced internationals - have spoken of their surprise that the former England boss has not already been axed with a run of six straight away defeats leaving them second from bottom in the Premier League table.

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren has endured a difficult tenure on Tyneside, winning just six league games

Magpies midfielder Moussa Sissoko (left) holds off pressure from Stoke City's Erik Pieters in the 1-0 loss

Newcastle centre back Steven Taylor (right) dribbles with the ball ahead of Stoke's Marko Arnautovic

There is a feeling within the club's North Tyneside training ground that, with a nine-day break before the trip to Leicester, a loss against the Cherries this weekend will seal McClaren's fate.

Owner Mike Ashley does not want to miss out on next season's bumper TV deal and he will be asking managing director Lee Charnley for updates on the unfolding crisis.

Newcastle are battling against relegation this term

Indeed, we understand Charnley headed straight for Newcastle's dressing-room following their 5-1 humiliation at Chelsea last month, a performance former captain Alan Shearer labelled as 'embarrassing and hopeless'.

The players, meanwhile, are also aware of tension between certain members of the backroom team and there is a suspicion among the club's hierarchy that some of them are bringing little to the relegation effort.

We can reveal there was a meeting in Yarm in North Yorkshire attended by McClaren and his staff in which they sought to address several issues threatening their top flight status.

One of their biggest worries is the crippling injury situation and that has caused bad blood between psychology guru Steve Black and head fitness coach Alessandro Schoenmaker, who have different ideas over training methods.

Andros Townsend is the latest to fall victim and the £12million new boy remains a doubt for Saturday's game with a hamstring complaint.

Newcastle winger Andros Townsend (left) is currently out of action with a hamstring problem

Toon captain Fabricio Coloccini (left) has grown frustrated with having his leadership credentials questioned

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However, some club insiders believe McClaren has not helped matters by playing Chancel Mbemba at Everton on February 3, even though there were concerns over his condition ahead of the match.

The centre back - who is the best defender on the books - has not appeared since that 3-0 defeat having been forced off before half-time with an ankle problem.

Skipper Fabricio Coloccini picked up a calf strain during their recent break in La Manga and is said to be less than impressed with McClaren lauding the captaincy credentials of Jonjo Shelvey ahead of Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke, a match in which the £12m January signing wore the armband.

We understand there is some confusion behind the scenes over the severity of Coloccini's injury and this has added to the sense of a management regime losing control.

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (right) filled in as captain during the 1-0 defeat by Stoke on Wednesday

McClaren is understood to have lost the support of several senior Newcastle players this season

Newcastle right back Daryl Janmaat speaks to disgruntled away supporters after the defeat by Stoke

McClaren has long since feared the Argentine is not vocal enough to lead his team in their relegation scrap and it now appears their relationship is growing increasingly strained.

One of the key factors which could hasten McClaren's exit is the fixture list, with the game at league leaders Leicester followed by relegation six-pointers against Sunderland and Norwich.