Jamaal Lascelles has admitted that Newcastle's players are at fault for Steve Bruce's sacking after abysmal performances 'put a lot of heat' on the axed manager.
Bruce, 60, was dismissed this week after overseeing a poor start to the campaign on Tyneside, with Newcastle winless in their opening eight league games while boasting the worst defensive record in the top-flight.
The Magpies sit in 19th position and the next manager will be tasked with staving off relegation and setting the foundations for a prosperous new era under the club's Saudi owners.
And Lascelles says that players must be 'accountable' for their role in Bruce's departure, adding that there has been plenty of uncertainty in the dressing room given the recent developments at the club.