IF Steve McClaren wants Newcastle United to make the most of a fresh start under his guidance, then it needed the fresh approach.

Today’s news that John Carver and Steve Stone have been axed had seemed inevitable, but it also had to come if McClaren was to stand a chance of impressing from his first day in a new job.

While Carver’s relationship with certain fans has deteriorated after winning just three of his 19 games in charge since Alan Pardew departed in January, there will still be a degree of sympathy held by many supporters for the way a Geordie has lost his job at St James’ Park.

But the reality is that McClaren will want to do things his own way, so he will not want an integral leftover of the Pardew regime hanging around.

McClaren – as many have vouched over the last few days – has been regarded as one of the best training ground coaches in the country for more than 15 years.

He also has enough experience to realise his predecessor’s right-hand man of four years could be quickly blamed if the new era starts poorly, which would in turn reflect badly on his own managerial style and judgement.

The former Middlesbrough boss has always tried to be innovative in his approach, like moulding a completely new backroom team when he took over at Middlesbrough in 2001. That included the unusual step of naming a sports psychologist – Bill Beswick – as his assistant in 2001.

He will look to surround himself with trusted lieutenants at St James’ and the departures of both Carver and Stone suggest he will be backed by owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley in his bid to turn a club around which was on the brink of relegation to the Championship on the final day of last season.

McClaren will be confirmed as Newcastle’s new head coach in the next 24 hours and he already has ideas for the backroom team he wants in place. Then it will be about recruitment, working in tandem with chief scout and friend Graham Carr, and preparing what should be a new-look Newcastle squad for August.

It might seem harsh to see a lifelong Newcastle fan and loyal servant like Carver leave the coaching role he always dreamed of, but if McClaren’s methods are to stand a chance of working then it was a decision that had to be made.