Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton taking it one game at a time
CHRIS HUGHTON has admitted he doesnt know if he will be in charge of team affairs when Sheffield Wednesday visit St James Park in midweek.
Bookmakers have suspended betting on Joe Kinnear returning as Newcastle manager triggered by news that talks to install David OLeary as the Magpies boss have collapsed.
With both Damien Duff and Steven Taylor drawing interest from Fulham and Everton respectively, Kinnear could be asked to take charge of a paper-thin squad.
Mike Ashley and Tyneside businessman Barry Moat are expected to be at todays game but the owner is considering pulling the plug on a proposed takeover as the pair struggle to agree a price for the club.
The Newcastle owner had identified former Leeds United and Aston Villa manager OLeary as his number one target as he seeks an experienced head to bring stability to the Newcastle dressing room.
The 51-year-old Irishman has been out of the game for over three years after his contract as Villa manager was terminated by mutual consent.
That didnt deter Newcastle from offering him a reported two-year deal but talks foundered after Ashley and Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias failed to agree personal terms with OLeary.
Kinnear is now on standby to return to Newcastle after health problems brought his 20-game tenure to a premature end last February. Alan Curbishley, Gordon Strachan and Glenn Hoddle have also been linked.
Hughton will remain in charge for this evenings televised game at home to Reading but the caretaker boss revealed he operates under permanent threat of being axed.
I dont know whether I will be in charge for Sheffield Wednesday, he admitted.
Its quite an odd existence but its been that way for a while. The remit I have at this particular moment is to look after the team.
What decision will be made regarding the bigger issues, such as selling the club or what manager will be brought in, I dont know. I am working very much on the basis of the next game.
Newcastle will be bolstered by the arrival of Manchester United right back Danny Simpson, on loan until January, who will help plug the gap left by Habib Beyes departure.
He brings Championship experience from his loan spells with Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
The 22-year-old Old Trafford youth team product has struggled to break into Sir Alex Fergusons first-team after making his Premier League debut in the 4-0 thrashing of Wigan in October 2007.
He has been handed the number 12 shirt and is expected to challenge Ryan Taylor as Newcastles first-choice right back. Simpson is the first player to join the club since Taylor was recruited last February.
Eight first-teamers have left the club during the interim and Hughton, who has been given the go-ahead to target loan signings, is also monitoring Watford defender Mike Williamson.
Roy Hodgson has confirmed his interest in recruiting Duff, whom he knows from his time in charge at Blackburn Rovers. We know what wed be getting with Damien, hes an experienced and quality player, said Hodgson.
The clubs are talking and I hope the deal will go through.
Damien and I go back a long way from when we worked together at Blackburn.
He wants to come back to west London. Damien had injury problems at Chelsea and has done well at Newcastle, given the turmoil there.
Every time hes played for Ireland hes consistently been one of their best performers.
Everton manager David Moyes has identified Taylor as a replacement for Joleon Lescott, who is expected to join Manchester City next week.
The Toffees have made initial enquiries on a proposed £8m deal for the former England U21 captain.
Danny Guthrie and Nicky Butt have failed to recover from injury and wont be risked against the Royals, but Joey Barton is pressing for a recall.
Hughton confirmed there had been no repeat of the training ground bust-ups that disrupted preparations for last weekends game at West Brom.
Joey Barton is a very good player and what I have seen in training with Joey this week is what I always see. He always trains very well.
Do I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat
No I dont actually.
It is probably tougher for family around you than it is for yourself because they are the ones on the fringe of it.
You are the one in the middle of it who has to deal with the issues.
