The uncertainty surrounding the future of Marcelo Loffreda, the Leicester head coach, has intensified after this agonisingly tense defeat yesterday, which leaves Leicester in serious danger of missing out on the Premiership play-offs for the first time in four years. It was an unlikely first victory in eight league matches for Newcastle Falcons, who themselves are in a state of upheaval following the announcement on Saturday that Mathew Tait and Toby Flood, their England stars, would be leaving the club.

Tait is joining Sale Sharks, while Flood is close to agreeing terms with Leicester. Whether he plays under Loffreda at Welford Road remains to be seen, with fresh speculation yesterday linking the club with Jake White, the former coach of South Africa.

Loffreda conceded that, at the end of his first season with Leicester, he could not be sure of his own future. “Who knows what is going to happen with the decisions that the board takes,” he said. “I know that for this club it is important to win and have trophies. It's not my decision, it will be the board's decision.”

Leicester gave a horribly disjointed performance, but only the smallest of margins prevented them from sneaking a victory in the final minutes. After the countdown clock had elapsed, Leicester kept pounding away at Newcastle's line in a last, desperate attempt to keep their season alive. The final thrust came from Richard Blaze, the replacement lock, who threw himself over the line but was held up by a posse of defenders. Andrew Small, the referee, blew his whistle and the Falcons players roared their relief.

Their elation was understandable. Since the sacking in March of John Fletcher, the director of rugby, they had won only one game and news of the departures of Flood and Tait, both of whom had recently signed contract extensions, suggested a club in turmoil. Ben Woods, their England Saxons flanker, is also likely to move to Leicester along with Flood, as Loffreda confirmed: “There is nothing definite yet, but it will be very close in the next week.” Newcastle's version of events is that they are allowing the players to leave because they struggle for consistency while four of their England backs - Flood, Tait, Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon - are regularly away on international duty. But both Flood and Tait were known to be unhappy with the sacking of Fletcher. Flood was watching from the stands yesterday, with an ankle injury.

Loffreda conceded that the Falcons' intensity in the early exchanges surprised his side and they scored their first try when Andy Long burrowed over in the fifth minute. Although Jordan Crane and Tom Varndell replied with tries for Leicester, two penalties from Wilkinson kept Newcastle ahead. The fly half has postponed surgery on his shoulder to complete the season with his club and, early in the second half, he made the try that gave his side breathing space. Finding himself marked by a forward, Wilkinson ran outside Marco Wentzel and adroitly flipped a pass to Tom May, who sprinted down the touchline to score. Varndell scored his second in the 76th minute, to set up the breathless finale, but the Falcons had done enough.

Leicester now know that victory at home to Harlequins in their final game on Saturday may not be enough to secure a play-offs place. They must hope that London Wasps and Sale slip up, although Newcastle are likely to field an inexperienced side against Wasps on Wednesday.

Scorers: Newcastle Falcons: Tries: Long (5min), Dowson (40+2), May (54). Conversions: Wilkinson 2. Penalty goals: Wilkinson 3 (3, 16, 68). Leicester: Tries: Crane (7), Varndell 2 (52, 69). Conversions: Goode, Vesty. Penalty goals: Goode (52), Vesty (69).

Scoring sequence (Newcastle first): 3-0, 10-0, 10-7, 13-7, 13-12, 20-12 (half-time), 20-15, 25-15, 28-15, 28-18, 28-25.

Newcastle Falcons: M Tait; T May, T Dillon, T Visser, J Rudd; J Wilkinson, J Grindal (sin-bin, 69-80+1); J Golding (rep: D Wilson, 68), A Long (rep: R Vickers, 64), C Hayman, A Perry (rep: T Swinson, 80+2), G Parling, R Beattie (rep: R Winter, 64), B Woods, P Dowson.

Leicester: G Murphy; T Varndell, D Hipkiss, A Mauger, A Tuilagi; A Goode (rep: S Vesty, 56), H Ellis; M Castrogiovanni (rep: M Ayerza, 52), B Kayser (rep: M Davies, 63), J White, M Wentzel (sin-bin, 27-38; rep: R Blaze, 67), B Kay, M Corry, T Croft, J Crane.

Referee: A Small.

Attendance: 9,184.