Alan Pardew has admitted his position at Newcastle United is in doubt after a season that has left the club fighting for their Premier League future.

Newcastle manager has not heard from owner since 6-0 defeat but denies split in squad

Alan Pardew is aware that relegation to the Championship could end his time in charge at Newcastle United.

A breathless celebration had barely abated when Alan Pardew stood in front of the television cameras – hair sorted, shirt back in his trousers – and commended his players. “I asked them to find a way before kick-off,” he said. “They found a way.”

Sports Direct is to hand its staff a payout worth more than £50,000 this summer after the sportswear giant met its profit targets under a lucrative share scheme.

Quercus pins hopes on Suggs

Retail rivals Sports Direct and JD Sports Fashion are limbering up to submit bids to acquire the group behind the Bench clothing brand for up to £100m.

Sports Direct International is famous for flogging large amounts of tracksuits and trainers, but yesterday its bosses were making a name for themselves with the sale of large chunks of shares. David Forsey, chief executive, and the finance chief, Robert Mellors, have sold all their shares ahead of next month's reward scheme which will see them receive 1 million new shares in the new financial year.

Sir Mike Rake, the chairman of BT, is to become president of the employers' organisation the CBI, taking over from Sir Roger Carr.

Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran all arrived in January

The future of high street fashion retailer Republic has been secured and 2,100 jobs saved after Sports Direct International bought the chain from administrators.

In a rare piece of good news for the retail sector, supermarket Morrisons has bought 49 Blockbuster stores from the DVD rental group's administrator, Deloitte.

Recent results have seen the Magpies climb away from the bottom three