Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort is set to step down from his role at St James' Park.

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It is understood that Mort will leave the club after less than a year as the right-hand man of club owner Mike Ashley (pictured, left, with Mort) to return to his career as a lawyer.

Mort took a break from top City firm Freshfields Bruchhaus Deringer to oversee Ashley's £134.4 million takeover of the club, and he is set to return to his former role as co-head of the firm's leisure arm.

The 42-year-old has been the main spokesman for Ashley, and broke the news to the media of the departure of former manager Sam Allardyce, who was in charge when Ashley took over, and the reappointment of former boss Kevin Keegan.

While he was involved in the process of managerial recruitment, Mort's main brief has been to address the club's debt problems.

Derek Llambias, an associate of Mort, was appointed deputy chairman earlier in May, and is now understood to be the most likely candidate to replace Mort as club chairman.