Filed under: Newcastle, Premier League, Football
Mike Ashley is playing a dangerous game. He has unleashed a furious reaction from Newcastle United supporters with his decision to sack Chris Hughton - and the owner risks alienating many of them forever if they don't like the identity of the "more experienced" man he recruits as the new manager.Former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill would satisfy a section of the fans and take some of the heat off Ashley if the team continued to progress under him this season.
Alan Pardew - perhaps the strongest early contender - Martin Jol and Alan Curbishley are among other names linked with the vacancy and Ashley would find it difficult to convince the supporters that they are the right men for job.
Another certain to be on the millionaire's radar would spark a major revolt among the Toon Army - Joe Kinnear, the manager who had to quit United nearly two years ago because of a heart problem,
Ashley is close to Kinnear, who has recovered from his illness and would jump at the chance to return to St James' Park. Don't write him off as a candidate.
Alan Shearer and current Huddersfield manager Lee Clark are also being mentioned by Newcastle fans, but their chances can be discounted. And, while coaches Peter Beardsley and Steve Stone have been put in temporary charge, they will not be in the running on a permanent basis.
Whoever does take the job faces an awkward six months as he inherits players who admired the way Hughton tackled his job since taking over at the start of last season.
Hughton had been the caretaker-manager on three occasions before being given the job on a permanent basis 14 months ago, albeit on a salary that made him one of the worst-paid managers in the top division.
His record is an impressive one and explains why Ashley's decision has baffled supporters and once again made him a target for the venom he encountered after the exit of Kevin Keegan and the arrival of Kinnear.
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