Source: Northern_Echo
Fans’ anger as Magpies boss sacked
NEWCASTLE United owner Mike Ashley was facing mounting criticism from players and supporters alike last night after the surprise dismissal of manager Chris Hughton.[LNB] Hughton, pictured, was sacked yesterday afternoon, despite leading Newcastle to last season's Championship title and guiding the club to a respectable 11th place in the Premier League.[LNB] Former Newcastle striker Peter Beardsley has assumed caretaker control, and is expected to be in charge for Saturday's home game with Liverpool, with Alan Pardew and Martin Jol both strongly tipped to be the club's next permanent manager.[LNB] However, last night attention still focused on Ashley's controversial decision to dispense with a manager who had helped keep Newcastle afloat following the club's relegation from the Premier League a year-anda- half ago.[LNB] Centre-half Sol Campbell, who joined the Magpies in August, said: Chris is such a lovely guy. Top man.[LNB] This will hit the players hard. The players admired him, and liked him, and won't be happy now he's gone like this.[LNB] You have got to ask yourself why this has happened because it makes no sense. Here is a guy who has done an unbelievable job. He got the club back into the Premier League and any manager would have been rewarded for that with a new contract but Chris wasn't.[LNB] The players are sure to be asking themselves, What the hell is going on', that is only natural.[LNB] Supporters have been even more critical, with many pledging to protest against Hughton's departure ahead of Saturday's match.[LNB] Steve Wraith, of Players Inc magazine, said: There have been whispers about Hughton's position being under threat for a while, but I don't think any fans expected this to happen.[LNB] Chris Hughton has done what no other manager has done for years and brought stability to Newcastle, which is what the club needs. Now Mike Ashley has destroyed this stability by getting rid of him.[LNB] Former Newcastle striker Malcolm Macdonald said: I think it's a very harsh decision. I think Chris will look back at this rather glumly and say, To be fair, I've been badly done by'. He won't say it of course because he's too much of a gentleman.[LNB] Hughton led Newcastle for two short caretaker spells during their relegation season, and was appointed permanent boss in November last year after guiding the club to the top of the Championship table.[LNB] He presided over notable recent victories over Sunderland and Arsenal, but the Newcastle board have decided they want a more experienced figure at the helm.[LNB] An official statement said: Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed manager in October 2009. The club wishes him well for the future.[LNB] Regrettably, the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward. The task of appointing a new manager now begins.[LNB]
