Harper lambasts Magpies saga

Harper: Players know as much as the fans

Steve Harper believes that Newcastle are 'dying a slow, painful death' as they continue preparations for the new season without a manager.

Alan Shearer, the man who failed to save the Magpies from Premier League relegation last term, is patiently waiting in the wings to be reappointed as the ongoing sale of the club drags on.

Meanwhile the club continue to lose ground on their Championship rivals with prospective targets moving elsewhere.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton was warned that the squad are close to revolt if Shearer is not appointed imminently and the whole situation has saddened Harper.

"What happened last season was desperately disappointing, but just when you think there's an opportunity for this club to put itself right, build and get straight back up, the opposite happens," he told the Daily Mail.

"We want it to be resolved so we know where we are and where we're going because at this moment the football club is dying a slow painful death.

Gradual slow implosion

"For five or six years now it's been a gradual slow implosion. The situation is very, very frustrating for all of us.

"To be fair to Chris Hughton, Colin Calderwood and the lads, we have made the best of what is a dreadful situation.

"All we keep hearing is the 'next few days, the next few days, next few days' Everybody - fans, players and staff - want it resolved so we can rebuild this football club because we're in an awful state at the moment.

"Everyone is in limbo. The players don't know what's happening, staff don't know what's happening, the fans don't."