NEWCASTLE are expected to turn to Sam Allardyce after Glenn Roader resigned last night.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes had the former Wanderers boss installed as 1/4 favourite to take over the St James' Park hot seat last night.

Allardyce, who quit his post at the Reebok Stadium 10 days ago, was the name on everybody's lips as the most likely target for the Geordies as soon as news came through that Roeder's future at Newcastle was looking bleak in the early evening.

Roeder resigned after heavy speculation that he was going to be sacked when an emergency board meeting was called by his board.

His future had been the subject of intense speculation since Allardyce quit, although Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd insisted last night that he had not spoken to Allardyce.

He said: "I've never spoken to Sam Allardyce and he's never spoken to me.

"I don't know where all this is coming from."

Roeder's situation was brought into sharper focus by Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Blackburn which ended their faint hopes of Europe.

Angry fans booed the players off the pitch and protested against the chairman, manager and the board.

Allardyce, meanwhile, is expected to turn down a chance to say his goodbyes to the fans he left behind at the Reebok.

He has been invited by chairman, Phil Gartside, to attend Sunday's final match of the season.

But Allardyce, manager for the last seven-and-a-half years, is unlikely to accept it.

He has told friends he has no intention of being at the Aston Villa game or at the official Player of the Year event at the Reebok on Sunday evening.

Allardyce was at the helm for eight successful seasons and has always had a great affection for the Wanderers fans who first took him to their hearts as a player in the Seventies.

But he accepts that his decision to quit with immediate effect rather than wait until the end of the season had denied him the chance of a rousing send-off, as Alan Curbishley had when he left Charlton Athletic after 15 years in joint and sole charge last May.

Allardyce, meanwhile, is expected to face fresh questioning from the Football Association and Quest inquiry teams investigating transfer "bung" allegations.

Controversial unlicensed agent, David Abou, is reported to have given evidence to the inquiry teams which he claims highlights irregularities in the deals that brought Tal Ben Haim, Blessing Kaku and Idan Tal to Wanderers - all from Israeli clubs.

Wanderers have refused to make any comment.