However, it has been suggested by a "Newcastle insider at St James' Park" that Steve McClaren has no say which players leave ... or come to Newcastle!
Although 'Wally' was at Newcastle when signings were made ... he had no say in bringing in Chancel Mbemba, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ivan Toney or Georginio Wijnaldum ... and the deal for Florian Thauvin.
He also has NO SAY in who leaves. Jak Alnwick, Sammy Ameobi (loan to Cardiff), Jonas Gutierrez, and Ryan Taylor are the major outs ... all done without McClaren's say.
It asks the question ... who picks the team?
Haris Vuckic and Mehdi Abeid will leave ... with McClaren bypassed and his opinion was not even considered.
But that was part of the deal when he put pen to paper. He is a "coach" - NOT a manager!
The Newcastle "Board of Directors" decided last season that Vuckic and Abeid were going to leave.
United's first pre-season fixture in the summer (v Gateshead) said it all. Neither were included, even though United used all 22 squad players in that game:
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
However Abeid did feature at York, and was a very late substitute at Bramall Lane.
Haris Vuckic has confirmed in an interview published in his native Slovenia that he has agreed with Newcastle United that it it time to part company, the writing having been on the wall for sure, ever since he toured Holland pre-season with the reserves rather than America with the first team squad.
The attacking midfielder/striker says that a number of clubs are interested in signing him if a transfer fee can be agreed, with Vuckic naming Rangers and Antalyaspor of Turkey as two of those who want to buy him.
However, Rangers manager Mark Warburton is reported to have ruled out a move for the fomer on-loan player, no doubt any transfer fee demanded b Newcastle would likely be problematic for the Glasgow club.
Haris Vuckic: “It is true, I am leaving Newcastle, I spoke with the coach (Steve McClaren) and he doesn’t see me in their plans, so we all decided that it would be best for me.
“I want to go somewhere where I am going to play, I want to play for the national team but it is clear that I need to play regularly for my (next) club.”
Meanwhile, Mehdi Abeid is also on his way out of Newcastle, like Vuckic he hasn’t featured in the match day 18 against either Southampton or Swansea.
It is widely reported that Panathinaikos are hoping to take Abeid on a permanent deal but are yet to agree a fee with Newcastle.
The midfielder spent a season on loan with the Greek club in 2013/14 and scored double figures as he helped them qualify for the qualifying stages of the Champions League, as well as winning the Greek Cup during his successful year there.