By Nick Raynor
December 23 2004

Newcastle Boss Graham Souness has pleaded with Newcastle fans to not judge him until HIS players arrive at the club.

The Scot’s job security is rapidly decreasing as the club had slid down the table to 13^th and has come under criticism from Toon fans. 

This is not good news for Souness, whose target for the season is European qualification at the least AND some silverwear. 

Souness commented: 

"In an ideal world my performance at Newcastle would not be held up to serious judgement until the end of next season.” 

"But I realise this is probably not a club where you get that luxury.” 

"It's my neck that goes into the noose first when there's a bad spell, I know that." 

Souness believes if he is backed financially, he can move up the table with some new signings in January. A lot of interest has been focused on Rangers defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, who Newcastle had an £8 million bid turned down for. 

Souness said: 

“We've been discussing players who are at the level we need," 

"Nothing has been agreed, but we're certainly looking at the right names and when you do that you are talking about a lot of money.”

"It's encouraging we are aiming high.”

"We have a front six at Newcastle that would challenge anyone, but it's not enough when you're struggling at the back, and it's important to have the firepower in the transfer market to do something about that."