New Manager MUST Be Popular Choice - Shepherd
By Kev Luff
February 7 2006
Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd will step up his search for the Tynesiders’ new manager, and has revealed that the new man who takes over MUST have the backing of the supporters.
Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd will step up his search for the Tynesiders’ new manager. Both Alan Shearer and Glenn Roeder have ruled themselves out of the running for the position and with neither of the pair qualified Shepherd needs to find a replacement sooner rather than later. No shortlist has yet been drawn up but the chairman has revealed that the new man who takes over must have the backing of the supporters.
“Everyone wants to know (who the new manager will be),” said Shepherd. “But we had to leave it until the Portsmouth game was out of the way. It was so important that we got the right result, we had to put it on the back burner until Monday, but we’re not ruling anybody in, we’re not ruling anybody out. We’ll find out the next step when we have another meeting in the week, but we don’t want to react too hastily. We feel that the team is in safe hands with Glenn (Roeder) and Alan, but I’d prefer to get things sorted sooner rather than later.”
Martin O’Neill would be a popular choice. The Irishman quit Celtic last May in order to care for his sick wife however sources close to the former Wycombe and Leicester City manager say that he is now ready to return to management. However there could well be a string of other suitors to O’Neill’s signature including England. Kevin Keegan would be another popular choice on Tyneside as could former Bayern Munich boss Ottmar Hitzfeld. With previous manager Graeme Souness not a popular appointment public opinion could play a crucial part in the decision.
“Unfortunately, Graeme never really clicked with Newcastle fans,” admitted Shepherd. “It’s a fact of life and everybody knows it. I’m not saying anything that I wouldn’t say to his face, but the fans just didn’t take to him. It’s vitally important that the new manager is popular, that the supporters like him. It goes without saying, but its part and parcel of the game that you get somebody in who the supporters are happy with.”
A foreign manager could well be the final solution the Magpies’ plump for. Home grown candidates are thin on the ground. Other options not from the British Isles could be Luiz Felipe Scolari and Eriksson. Whilst Eriksson is still attached to England and would not be available until after the World Cup and interestingly the Newcastle chairman has said he would be willing to wait that long to appoint the correct choice.
“In the past I have expressed a preference for a British manager, but I feel that at this difficult time we have to look at every option open to us,” said Shepherd. “That means we will be looking at every available candidate, no matter which country they coach or manage in. It’s a World Cup year and that could throw up some interesting possibilities. Ideally, I would like to have it sorted out sooner rather than later but, if waiting until after the World Cup led to getting the right man, I would be prepared to bide my time.”
Source: NorthEastFootball.co.uk
Tyne Talk, and an overwhelming amount of Tyne Talk's regular users, are backing Ottmar Hitzfeld to be the new Newcastle United manager.
“In a recent poll Hitzfeld received the lion’s share of the vote and many are surprised he has not been mentioned more in the media.
“We have a huge number of fans adamant he’s the right man for the job.”
A 30 page dossier has also been posted on the site outlining Hitzfeld’s notable credentials.
“Ottmar Hitzfeld was a popular choice amongst fans after Sir Bobby left but the enthusiasm amongst fans on our site seems even greater this time around.
“Obviously the Chairman has a difficult decision to make but we are pleased to see he hasn’t ruled out a move for a manager from overseas and, in our view, a coach of Hitzfeld’s pedigree should certainly be considered.”
NUFC and Comedy Wallpapers, Truetones, Polyphonics, Videos