The 51-year-old former defender ended his 15 months in charge on Sunday one day after the 0-2 home loss to Blackburn Rovers in the Premiership, but there was no official confirmation until Monday.

A statement issued through the club's website said: "Newcastle United today announced that Glenn Roeder has offered his resignation as team manager with immediate effect and this has been accepted by the Newcastle United board."

The loss to Blackburn had left Newcastle languishing in 13th position in the Premiership and they have not scored a goal at home for over eight hours, their worst run since 1951.

Speculation has been rife that Roeder will be succeeded by former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce who turned down the Newcastle job before Graeme Souness, Roeder's predecessor, was offered it in 2004.

Allardyce resigned as Bolton boss a week ago after seven-and-a-half years at the helm amid rumours he could also be appointed Manchester City boss in the summer.

It was not immediately clear who would take charge for Sunday's final Premiership fixture at Watford, but at least one bookmaker has stopped taking bets on Allardyce getting the job.

While Allardyce is now available, he still has two and a half years remaining on his Bolton contract and that would mean a sizeable compensation payment. Newcastle were left with a hefty bill after the departures of Souness and his backroom staff, and with hefty debts, they could do without having to fork out scarce funds to land his latest successor.

Whoever the new man is, he, like his most recent predecessors, faces the task of bringing success to a big club whose supporters are among the most demanding in the game.

Roeder was desperate for time to turn things around after a dreadful run of injuries, but his position was virtually untenable when the fans turned on him for the first time after Saturday's game.

Much of their anger, however, was directed at chairman Freddy Shepherd, who has fought off two takeover bids in recent months, and he now faces the task of appointing a fifth manager in less than 10 years.

Roeder's replacement will inherit a squad which is packed with talent on paper at least, but has a depressing capacity for under-achievement and is in serious need of a radical overhaul.