Newcastle is in a mess and could yet be relegated to cap a thoroughly disappointing season for a club that never seems far from imploding.

The team has lost a club record and eight league games in a row to drop within two points of third-from-last Sunderland, which has a game in hand. The relationship between temporary manager John Carver and the players also may have been fractured after Carver claimed defender Mike Williamson deliberately got himself sent off in Saturday's humiliating 3-0 loss at relegation rival Leicester.

With fans also angry at owner Mike Ashley's lack of ambition and investment, Newcastle is in turmoil ahead of today's home match against West Bromwich Albion.

There have even been reports that the club tried to bring in former England manager Steve McClaren, currently in charge of second-tier Derby, for its final three games.

"I would like to make a call to all fans to leave aside all differences, all different opinions, anything that divides us as people who love this club," Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini wrote in an open letter. "Neither players nor staff would like to be in the position that we are in at the moment."

Burnley and Queens Park Rangers will be relegated this weekend if they lose away games at Hull and Manchester City, respectively. Draws might not be enough to stay in the top division either.

Many have already written them off, leaving one of five teams to join them. Sunderland, on 33 points, occupies the final relegation spot and plays Everton away today. Hull and Leicester are on 34, and Aston Villa and Newcastle have 35.