Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton happy for striker to stay at Santander
CHRIS HUGHTON is banking on Racing Santander ending Xisco's misery at Newcastle.[LNB] Racing's 2-0 victory over Sporting Gijon last weekend preserved their place in the Primera Liga, increasing hopes of a permanent deal.[LNB] Xisco has figured quite prominently during his season long loan from St James' Park, scoring four goals, having failed to make any positive impact in England.[LNB] Hughton is hoping to hear from Racing because he is keen to move Xisco on again in an attempt to eradicate his £50,000 a week wages.[LNB] He's our player again now because the Spanish season has finished but Xisco has shown his desire to go back to Spain on a permanent basis,[LNB] said Hughton. He would like to stay (at Racing Santander) and I think that is understandable because it hasn't really worked for him here.[LNB] It is something we will now have to work on. We've not heard anything from Racing Santander yet about whether they want to keep him but we obviously have to look for a solution now and we'll be contacting them.[LNB] We will talk to Xisco and Racing Santander and look at the options but if nothing is sorted out then he will return to us for pre-season.'' Xisco has three years remaining on his contract and Newcastle are keen to move him on even if it means allowing a £5.7m signing to depart for free.[LNB] Hughton, who is not interested in freed WBA midfielder Robert Koren, is keen to ensure the dressing room spirit, which reached new highs during the title-winning campaign, is not disrupted by new faces, while admitting there will not be much cash to work with.[LNB] One thing we've always tried to have is a good environment at the training ground, he said.[LNB] As the season's gone on, the feelgood factor has come back, and that goes for everyone involved in the club.[LNB] Things have changed in the game and there won't be the money to spend there has been previously.[LNB] Looking at teams like Wolves and Birmingham, who spent wisely last season, gives us confidence.[LNB] Hughton was speaking after being presented with a special award in recognition of his exceptional achievements[LNB] this season by antiracism organisation, Kick It Out.[LNB] The Newcastle boss will be the only black manager in the Premier League next season.[LNB] He said: We still have an imbalance between those playing and those going into coaching, but it's important that anyone who gets there is there on merit.[LNB] If me being the only black manager in the league can be a positive influence on anyone coming through, then great.[LNB] Going back over the years, you rarely saw black faces in the boardroom. Although there's been an improvement, there's still room for more.[LNB] For me, as someone who played in the 70s and 80s, seeing the racism around on the terraces then, things have improved dramatically, and Kick It Out has played a massive part in this.[LNB] A lot of this is to do with cultural barriers as well, which are reflected in the changing room.[LNB]
