Chris Mort, the Newcastle United chairman, has insisted the club are not looking for a replacement for Sam Allardyce.

The former Bolton Wanderers manager has endured an intensely difficult Christmas period, which has seen his side take just one Barclays Premier League point from a possible nine and Joey Barton remanded in custody on charges of common assault and affray.

But amid fevered speculation that his employers could be looking for a new saviour - Martin Jol, until recently the Tottenham Hotspur manager and Geordie hero Alan Shearer are the bookmakers' favourites for the post - Mort has dismissed the rumours. “All this makes me laugh and I find all this speculation tedious,” he said. “There is a different name every week and there is just no truth in it.”

Mike Ashley, the owner, was among the travelling fans at Wigan on Boxing Day, when he will have been left in little doubt over their feelings as Newcastle slipped to a dismal 1-0 defeat three days after needing a late equaliser to claim a point against bottom club Derby County at St James’ Park.

Ashley was not at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as a much-improved display against Chelsea failed to yield any reward, albeit courtesy of a poor decision which allowed Salomon Kalou’s late winner to stand.

However, with Ashley enjoying a winter break, Mort was there to hear the 3,000 or so away supporters applaud their side warmly from the pitch despite their disappointment. “We were all very proud of the players and disappointed that we lost to what was clearly an offside goal,” Mort said.

Mort’s reassurances may do little to quell the speculation - the bookmakers have Allardyce as on odds-on favourite to be out of his job before the end of the season and to be the next top flight manager to go. Newcastle entertain Manchester City tomorrow night and they are looking to end a run of three games without a victory before Sunday’s tricky FA Cup third-round trip to Stoke City.