By PAUL REES

NEWCASTLE finished bottom of the Premiership after heavy defeats in their last three matches, but they are confident of avoiding the drop next season if relegation is reintroduced.
The Falcons had their moments in their first season in the post-Dean Richards era, but released senior players to lower the wage bill and parted company with head coach Dave Walder two months before the end of the campaign.
“It was a turbulent season in some ways,” said Mark Laycock, right, who became interim head coach after Walder was placed on gardening leave. “There w...