Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton set for award, as Ashley looks poised to stay
CHRIS HUGHTON was last night included on a four-man shortlist to win the Championship’s manager of the month award, but talk continues to centre on when Alan Shearer will return to lead Newcastle United.
Despite suggestions from his close friend Rob Lee yesterday that he would not countenance working under Mike Ashley, sources close to Shearer claim he is not willing to rule that out.
Further discussions between the Newcastle hierarchy and Tyneside businessman Barry Moat are expected shortly, but it seems likely that Ashley will remain the club’s owner.
With that in mind there has been a clamour from the players to keep Hughton in charge rather than draft in a temporary appointment until the club has been sold.
Shearer, though, has not given up on taking control for a second time.
“I think he (Shearer) is getting annoyed with it,” Lee was quoted as saying. “My gut feeling is I can’t see Mike Ashley having him back and I can’t see Alan working for him again. I’d be surprised if that happened.”
Newcastle’s players deserve credit for the way they have gone about their Championship business in the absence of a full-time manager and fully committed owner.
Over the course of the summer there have been numerous consortiums credited with an interest in buying Newcastle, while most have disappeared off the radar.
Irishman Charlie Chawke, who was part of the Drumaville consortium that took over at Sunderland, claimed in July that it was a “very viable option” to buy the Magpies.
Yesterday, however, even he pulled out. He said: “When some people heard that we were getting out of Sunderland they asked us to set up a consortium to get involved with Newcastle but I think that’s more or less been put to bed now.”
Newcastle have shown they have quickly adapted to life in the Football League, claiming 13 points from a possible 15.
Hughton – who has dismissed a link with Plymouth defender Marcel Siep – is expected to be named manager of the month on Saturday, having been shortlisted along with Preston’s Alan Irvine, West Brom’s Roberto di Matteo and Sheffield United’s Kevin Blackwell.
By the time Newcastle, who lead the division, play Cardiff on Sunday, Hughton hopes to have recruited a new striker, although a foot injury to Aston Villa’s Marlon Harewood has put a three-month loan deal in doubt. He is also interested in Sunderland’s David Healy and Manchester United defender Craig Cathcart.
