Former Newcastle United defender Robbie Elliott believes that the club need a clean break by appointing a new manager.

The Magpies are under the stewardship of John Carver until the end of the season after he took charge in the wake of Alan Pardew's departure for Crystal Palace in January.

Elliott says that it would be easy for Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to stick with Carver, but he believes that getting the right person in charge will also be a key factor in whether United can keep their best players and bring new ones in.

"I think it's easier for Ashley to keep John in the role but I don't know if that's the right thing for the club," Elliott told Perform. "I feel we need a clean break and it's a very difficult role. Look at the managers we've had over the years – how successful they have been at other clubs, then they come to Newcastle.

"You'd like to think it would be a job that interests a lot of people because of the possibilities.

"It might need a change of structure with how the owner wants to do it, that may prove a stumbling block, but it's going to be a big summer and I think that will dictate a lot of whether players stay or go and who comes in."

Elliott played for Newcastle across two spells between 1991 and 1997 and 2001 and 2006.