Source: Daily_Mail
Desperate Newcastle poised to make a new bid for David O'Leary
Newcastle United have made a renewed bid for David O'Leary and hope to name him as manager before Saturday's home game against Reading.
David O'Leary
David O'Leary: Wants security
Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week that O'Leary had turned down Newcastle's offer, fearing that if the club was sold he would then be replaced as manager. But Newcastle have now revised their terms and owner Mike Ashley is prepared to take the club off the market to give O'Leary the security he wants.
Ashley made up his mind at the end of last week, believing he would have greater chance of selling the club if they could win promotion back to the Premier League.
However, he did not want to pitch O'Leary straight into Saturday's match at West Bromwich Albion and risk his new man getting off to a bad start.
Instead he wants to give O'Leary more time to address the players and organise them ahead of what will be a potentially volatile atmosphere at St James' Park.
And there remains concern from the O'Leary camp of what would happen if a consortium involving local businessman Barry Moat puts together a proposed bid which would put Alan Shearer firmly back in the frame.
O'Leary has been out of management since he left his position at Aston Villa in 2006. The former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland defender has also previously managed Leeds United where he had current Newcastle captain Alan Smith under his tutelage.
Shearer for his part revealed on Saturday that he still wanted to return as Newcastle manager. He said: 'I wanted it sorted either way because of my love for the football club. I'd dearly love the chance to finish what I started last season.'
