Former England winger Chris Waddle fears that Joe Kinnear's Newcastle charges will face the horror of relegation.

Waddle who had a five-year stint with the Magpies feels that the fault goes way back to the days of Freddy Shepherd.

Speaking to The Mirror, Waddle said: "Mike Ashley [left] has got an awful lot to answer for.

"The only problem is, he will not put his head above the parapet and give the answers the fans crave.

"Newcastle fans are fantastic and they don't need persuading to get behind their team and back them to the hilt.

"All they ask is commitment from the players and for the people who run their beloved club to be open and honest with them about their plans and ambitions.

"Ashley has not done that, and his refusal to communicate has alienated the entire support. They want to know what direction the club is going in, what his blueprint for the next two or three years is.

"But you never hear a word from him. All he does at the moment is hide behind a mask of anonymity, allow Dennis Wise and his other mates to run the show and let poor old
Joe Kinnear take the bullets for what happens on the pitch.
It is just not good enough and it's having a debilitating effect on Joe and the players."

Waddle added: "Others must shoulder the share of the responsibility. Freddy Shepherd did a decent enough job as chairman, but he was far too trigger-happy when it came to getting rid of managers.

"Only six years ago, under Sir Bobby Robson, Newcastle were playing Champions League football. Now, a lot of chickens are coming home to roost.

"It deeply upsets me that they are, no doubt about it, heading for relegation unless some of their big players step up to the plate - and quickly. With sales and injuries they are short of big players, but keeper Steve Harper has bags of experience and ability and he will be up for the challenge.

"What I fear most of all is Newcastle will go the Leeds United route, in terms of financial collapse and dropping down the divisions."

Newcastle could only muster a 1-1 draw at St James' Park against Sunderland on Sunday night.