Sir Bobby Robson admitted last night that he was "stunned" to hear of Sam Allardyce's departure from Newcastle United.
Robson, who saved Newcastle from relegation after taking charge at St James' Park in 1999 and led them to Champions League qualification, was himself sacked in 2004. "Like most people I was very surprised and stunned by the news," he said. "I was in his company on Tuesday night. I went to see Newcastle reserves play Sunderland reserves and Sam was there.
"So hearing the news was without doubt a surprise, and I am stunned. That's the eighth Premiership manager we've lost this season already. The pressure is too much now in the Premiership. The dismissals of managers are coming fast and frequent, and it's rather sad for the game in many respects."
Mark Jensen, the editor of the Newcastle fanzine The Mag, said that the club's supporters yearned for the entertaining style that Kevin Keegan brought to the club. "At the end of the day it's all about results and entertainment and we had very little entertainment [under Allardyce]," he said. "Any manager goes by their results. Maybe people felt there wasn't progress on the pitch - whether that would have changed over time we will never know. Newcastle fans had a pre-conceived idea of the football that he would play - I don't think he did much to dispel that.
"I think he maybe tried to play a style of football that didn't suit players he had available. If he'd had time to bring in his own players, would he have been able to do it at a higher level than he did at Bolton? But, despite that, if he had got the results he would still be manager of Newcastle United."
Allardyce was the sixth full-time manager since the departure of Keegan in 1997, but despite his short tenure Jensen is not convinced that he would have brought success even if he had been given time.
"I'm gutted that another manager goes and another manager who hasn't been able to bring success to Newcastle - he's just another in a long line," he added. "People say you've got to give time to make a success of a club. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger have been successful because they have been given time. But if you pick the wrong one and give them time then it's time down the drain."
The former Newcastle forward Mick Quinn believes the fans wanted Allardyce out and that the club's former England striker Alan Shearer should replace him. "The fans have won again and they'll want one of their own now. Alan Shearer would be as good as anyone. He turned down a move to Manchester United - forget the goals he scored - they are eternally grateful for that and they want him as No1."