GRAEME Souness today sensationally quit Blackburn Rovers to become the new manager of Newcastle United.

The Magpies approached Rovers for permission to speak to Souness at the weekend.

And the Rovers board 'reluctantly' agreed to their request - paving the way for Souness to be unveiled as the new manager of Newcastle later today.

However, Souness will not be in charge of the Magpies for Saturday's potentially explosive encounter with Rovers at St James's Park.

In a statement issued this morning, Rovers confirmed that Newcastle made their initial approach over the weekend and were subsequently given permission to speak to Souness after he indicated he wanted to go.

The statement added that a satisfactory level of compensation had been reached and Souness was due to start his new job next Monday, with his first game set to be Newcastle's UEFA Cup tie with the Israeli side Sakhnin.

Rovers' chief executive John Williams said: "Graeme is very reluctant to leave a job he considers one of the best in the business, but views Newcastle as a massive opportunity and one he cannot resist.

"We wish him well for the future and thank him for four successful years.

"Now is the time to look forward and focus on finding Graeme's successor.

"We have an excellent squad and a lot to offer the new manager, not least a financially stable club, and we expect considerable interest."

Souness first took over from Brian Kidd in March 2000 and guided Blackburn to the Premiership in his first full season in charge a year on.

He then brought silverware to Ewood Park when Rovers won the Worthington Cup with a 2-1 victory over Spurs at the Millennium Stadium in February 2002.

Success continued the next season when Souness guided Blackburn to sixth in the Premiership and a UEFA Cup spot.

But he came under fire last season when Rovers spent much of the campaign battling against relegation and the pressure on him had increased following the club's poor start to the current season.

Rovers stalwart Tony Parkes is tipped to take temporary charge of team affairs until the club find a new manager. Parkes has stepped in as caretaker manager on five previous occasions.

Former Blackburn player and current Wales boss Mark Hughes has emerged as one of the early favourites to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis.