No Toon job this seasonAlan Shearer reveals that whilst he’d take the Newcastle United manager’s job today if it was offered, he’s prepared to get on with life in the interim.
With Barry Moat’s bid – or indeed anyone else’s bid – looking less likely to succeed as time goes on, Shearer’s chances of becoming Newcastle manager this season are fading. It looks like we’re stuck with the current regime for the moment and Shearer has been reflecting on this, saying:
“I can’t revolve my life around that any more because I have other things going on.”
The future Toon manager then touches on the philosophy of determinism, saying:
“If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Whatever has happened has happened. If anything else happens then it does – I will just get on with it.”
Which seems to me to be a clever rewording of Laplace’s Demon* – deep stuff indeed from the former number 9. After that philosophical interlude, Shearer goes on to praise Hughton, saying: (more…)
Hughton nonchalent about jobAs speculation mounts about Chris Hughton’s appointment as permanent Newcastle United manager, the man himself is chilled about the whole thing.
The caretaker manager said:
“I am very happy to do this job for as long as I am asked to do it.
“Speculation about my future is something that I have very much got used to. But that is not the important thing. The important thing is being able to focus on football matches and up until this stage we have been very much able to do just that.
“Any publicity like that is nice and always flattering but the only things we can really deal with are facts. We are where we are and until we are told anything different we just crack on as per normal.
“We are just getting into the campaign. We are a quarter of the way through it and we are enjoying the experience so far and we are learning more and more about this division with each and every game.
“It is very much about the team and that team is growing with each game. We have to maintain that. We will have to play three games in eight days and we know that the league position could change by the end of the week. There are nine points to play for and we have to very much stay focused on the job we are doing and make sure that we remain at the top end of the table.” (more…)
Next permanent manager?Nicky Butt has recently called for Chris Hughton to be made permanent manager of Newcastle United, but what are the options?
Apparently Derek Llambias will shortly be reviewing the positions of Hughton and Calderwood in light of our great start and Nicky Butt hopes that their positions are made permanent until the end of the season. Butt said:
“The team is showing there is belief here, and Chris and Colin deserve the job now.
“Hopefully they get it and that will mean we can all concentrate on the job in hand.
“People keep looking at us and say ‘they still haven’t got a proper manager’ even though Chris is acting manager.
“He’s not done anything wrong, but he hasn’t been named as boss.
“So it would be nice to see Chris get the job.”
Personally I don’t want to see a manager appointed ‘for the rest of the season’ – I’d rather see someone appointed for 3-5 years. The frequent changes of manager have been one of Newcastle’s main problems and one of the reasons why we were relegated last season. We need to get away from this short-termism. (more…)
Cash crisis maybeIf the latest report from Lee Ryder in the Chronicle is anything to go by, Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton won’t be getting much cash to spend in the January transfer window.
Following Keegan’s tribunal and the £2m it awarded him, it was speculated that Ashley would give Hughton some of the £8m he had set aside to pay Keegan off. However, Lee Ryder thinks otherwise. Having read the article I’m not clear why he thinks that though.
Ryder himself speculates that:
“… with the current regime at United still counting the cost of relegation and smaller crowds at St James’s this season, Ashley will continue to exercise caution when the window re-opens for business on January 1.” (more…)
"All done" ... hmmApparently the Sheard-fronted Star Foundation has made a bid for Newcastle United and the group expect an answer this week. Sheard claims the matter is in the hands of lawyers with Halliwells representing the Americans and Travers Smith representing Ashley.
Sheard claims it’s “all done”, saying:
“We will push it forward this week and it will be resolved. It’s all done as far as we are concerned.
“It’s all down to the solicitors now. There has been no contact with ourselves or Derek Llambias or Mike Ashley, just between legal teams.
“We are not aware of any other significant interest from elsewhere.”
Personally I am extremely dubious about this, although to be fair I’m dubious about all the politics surrounding Newcastle United at the moment. (more…)
