Newcastle Falcons head coach Alan Tait has admitted his future may be in question following Saturday's 16-10 Premiership defeat by Exeter Chiefs.
Falcons are now nine points adrift of Wasps with only two wins in 13 games, and extended their run of consecutive league losses to three games.
"We haven't performed," the ex-Scotland defence coach told BBC Newcastle.
"I'm the head coach and I have to take responsibility and that's what I will be doing over the next few days."
Tait added: "We have to face up to reality and we have just had a meeting with the players and coaches about where we are."
Since taking over on an interim basis following Steve Bates' exit in May 2010, Tait has won six of 36 Premiership matches in charge, with 28 defeats.
Cup competitions have proved slightly more fruitful for the former dual-code Great Britain player.
Last season the club reached the LV= Cup final before losing to Gloucester at Franklin's Gardens, and recorded a home success against Top 14 big spenders Toulon in this season's Amlin Challenge Cup pool stage.
Meanwhile the club's precarious league position, even with nine Premiership games remaining, will have alerted Falcons' top flight rivals to the talent at Kingston Park.
Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth is expected to attract the most interest, with the prolific former Blues half-back out of contract in the summer.
"Other clubs are going to be interested in a lot of our players, and this is a time of year when they sign [pre-contract deals], when they leave," Tait added.
"All I can ask is the guys to play to the final whistle in May for this club, and if they sign for another club I'll shake their hand and wish them all the best.
"I was a player and you've got to look after yourself and your families and there are some good players here out of contract that might get snapped up.
"I've got to sit with the owners, and look at the all the options of what might happen at the end of the season, and start to plan what we will do."
