Poyet Is Happy At Spurs
By Tyne-Talk
September 9 2008
Former Chelsea player Gus Poyet has distanced himself from the ongoing links between himself and Newcastle United's vacant manager position. The speculation comes as a result of his working relationship with former team-mate Dennis Wise who is Executive Director of Football at Newcastle and who looks to be calling the shots with regards to deciding who comes and goes at the club.
Earlier in the week a Tottenham Hotspur source publically warned Newcastle off poaching their staff issuing the following statement:
"Gus is on a long-term contract having only joined the staff a year ago. So it wouldn't be cheap if Newcastle tried to get him.
But it won't even get that far. There's no way they'll get permission to talk to him.
Gus will be a great No1 one day but he's happy at Spurs and is held in very high regard here."
Poyet told the Spurs site:
"It's very clear that it's nothing at all. I'm very happy here. I've had almost a year back at the club with Juande Ramos and Marcos Alvarez . This is just speculation and it's all too easy because of my relationship with Dennis Wise. It's nothing to worry about.
All I intend to do is relax and continue with my job."
Until a new manager is in post, Wise is expected to take charge of the 1st team affairs which may also see him temporarily managing them for the Hull game.
Sep 9 2008 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle
Didier Deschamps
NEWCASTLE United could face a fight if they turn to legendary French World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps.
Spurs’ assistant manager Gus Poyet remains the overwhelming favourite to succeed Kevin Keegan after working as Dennis Wise’s No 2 at Leeds United and Swindon Town.
The Uruguayan is believed to have already held talks in the capital with United’s representatives.
But former Juventus and Monaco boss Deschamps is also on Newcastle’s radar should Poyet – who is reluctant to give up life in the capital – opt out of a switch to Tyneside. Poyet’s superb relationship with United executive director Tony Jimenez may also see the Londoner swing a deal despite Poyet’s reservations about moving north again.
Deschamps fits into the framework of the club’s controversial two-tier management system which resulted in Kevin Keegan quitting the club.
However, Deschamps is an admirer of executive Dennis Wise after developing a strong friendship with the Londoner during his solitary season in England back in 1999/2000 when Chelsea won the FA Cup, beating the Magpies in the semi-final 2-1 at Wembley.
Yet although Deschamps is currently out of work, sources in France claim that he is in line for the national team job with current Les Bleus head coach Raymond Domenech fighting for his job.
A source close to Deschamps told the Chronicle: “It’s no secret that Didier was close to Dennis Wise during his time at Chelsea.
“And he was certainly interested in the job back in January before Keegan came in.
“The problem is that everybody thinks that he will be the next national team manager, very soon.”
Back in January when his agent Jeannot Werth was asked if Deschamps would be interested, he replied: “Yes, why not?”
Deschamps’ managerial CV is quite impressive – as a rookie boss he won the French League Cup with Monaco in 2003 before leading the principality side to the Champions League final in 2004, where they lost 3-0 to Porto.
And in 2007 he resigned as Juve coach after taking the club back to Serie A after the club had been demoted following the infamous match-fixing scandal a year earlier which had resulted in Fabio Capello losing his job.
France – who were dumped out of Euro 2008 in the group stages – were also gunned down by Austria 3-1 over the weekend in their World Cup qualification group.
And failure to beat Serbia on home soil tomorrow night could spell the end for Domenech, with national hero Deschamps one of the favourites to take his place.
French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes has also given Domenech the dreaded vote of confidence after the loss in Vienna.
Now Le Graet, the FFF’s vice-president, has again come out in defence of the coach with the pressure growing in France.
He said: “People are coming to see Domenech’s head roll more than to watch a match. That is not right.”
Deschamps was staying under the radar today, with the outcome of France’s clash with Serbia the key to his future.
Meanwhile, the Chronicle revealed in the aftermath of Keegan’s departure that Brazilian legend Zico was interested in taking the post.
And the former Japan and Fenerbahce manager said today: “The Newcastle job is one that I would be very interested in taking. It would be a privilege and an honour.
“I am used to working alongside technical directors so this isn't an issue for me. It's normal for me to work in those conditions.”
United are also keeping a close eye on events at Upton Park with Gianfranco Zola the favourite to take over from Alan Curbishley.
West Ham, though, are still waiting to see if Slaven Bilic will change his stance on the position after Croatia have played England tomorrow night before making a final decision.
Zola would then re-enter the Newcastle equation, although it would the worst kept secret in football that United would be his second choice after setting his heart on the Hammers job.
Another name that can’t be ruled out for St James’s Park is former England boss Terry Venables.
He has an understanding with Wise after managing the former midfielder with England and has told friends not to rule him out of a possible head coach role working under the former Wimbledon and Chelsea star.
:: LADBROKES are offering odds of 9/2 on the next manager of Newcastle leaving his job before the end of the current season.
