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Revealed: Why neither McClaren nor Benitez will manage Newcastle at Leicester next week
NEWCASTLE are reportedly willing to sack Steve McClaren without having a manager lined up to immediately replace him.
Ian Cathro (left) and Peter Beardsley could take charge of Newcastle on Monday night
McClaren, 54, could be axed today as club managing director Lee Charnley prepares a £2million severance package.
The former England and Middlesborough manager has taken training all week and is preparing the squad for a crunch tie against Leicester on Monday.
But Sky Sports claim he will not be on the touchline even if he hasn't been sacked by the start of next week.
The club are understood to have offered Benitez, 55, a three-year contract worth £4m a season.
He will also get a £2m bonus if he keeps the Toon up.
But reports claim that deal may not be complete before the trip the league leaders Leicester, meaning Newcastle will have contingency plans in place until the Spaniard arrives.