NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley will sit down with Alan Shearer this week to thrash out the way forward after the club plummeted out of the Premier League.

Yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa dumped the Magpies into the Coca-Cola Championship after 16 years in the top flight and left Ashley with big decisions to make.

Relegation could cost the club up to £60m with the sportswear tycoon's total investment of around £250m over the last two years counting for little.

Temporary manager Shearer admitted as the reality of the drop dawned on the club that huge mistakes have been made and that massive changes are required, and that process will begin this week.

Managing director Derek Llambias said: "Being relegated from the Premier League is a huge disappointment for everyone involved with Newcastle United.

"We are all hurting and I feel desperately sorry for everyone associated with Newcastle United; for Mike, who has invested heavily in the club, and for all the supporters who have given the team magnificent backing up and down the country all season long.

"Mike and I will sit down with Alan this week to discuss how the club moves forward again, and I hope to be able to say more to our supporters later this week."

One of the first issues to be resolved will be Shearer's continued presence or otherwise at St James' Park after his eight-game reign drew to a close.

** READ MORE NEWCASTLE NEWS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **