Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle caretaker boss Hughton on a high after top recovery
Turnaround: Hughton is manager of the month[LNB] When Chris Hughton was first asked to take over Newcastle United ascaretaker manager a year ago, he knew he was in charge of a club incrisis. [LNB]But nothing could have prepared the former Tottenham No 2 for the turmoil about to unfold.[LNB] Twelve months ago, Kevin Keegan had just been sacked, Joe Kinnearwas still tending to his roses, Alan Shearer was a Match of the Daypundit and Newcastle were still a Barclays Premier League team.[LNB] Tomorrow, Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month Hughton, nowin his third spell as caretaker at St James' Park, takes histable-topping side to fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City and willface former Newcastle and Sunderland striker Michael Chopra.[LNB] If he carries on at this rate, there is a danger the formerRepublic of Ireland international will be handed the Newcastle jobfull-time.[LNB] `It's been some year, hasn't it?' he said. `If you look at all theemotions, the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, it's certainlybeen a big experience from my point of view.[LNB] `I certainly feel as though I'm better for the experience of thatyear. This will be the longest period that I've been in charge of thisgroup of lads and along with that come decisions you have to make and,as with everything, the more you do something the more comfortable youbecome at it.[LNB] `The lads still call me Chris and I"m happy with that and the strongest area is the relationships between the players. What they've been able to do is get closer and tighter as a unit and I certainly think some of that has been shown on the football pitch.[LNB] `It's a tight group and there has been a realisation that it's them that has to do it.'[LNB] Former Bolton captain Kevin Nolan heaped the praise on Hughton for galvanising the squad which was relegated last season and then torn apart by owner Mike Ashley, who is still aiming to sell the club.[LNB] Nolan, who only scored his first goal for Newcastle last month, revealed the entire squad had decided to face up to the horror of the Championship rather than face going under.[LNB] He said: `We have such a strong bond between the players and staff that we are getting the success we deserve, albeit in the Championship. With the resources we have at the club, we feel we should be a Premier League outfit, but we paid for our mistakes last season massively.[LNB] `What we can do is players is only one thing, and react in the right way. From the first day we got back in training, Chris didn't know what was going on, and he brought us together and told us that. He said, 'I don't know if I'll be here next week and neither do you. Half the lads in this room could be gone'. You've got to take your hat off to the man for saying that.[LNB] `Chris has just won manager of the month and there couldn't be a better choice. He deserves all that - he is just one huge genuine fella who makes sure everything is spot on.[LNB] `I still can't believe that Newcastle are in the Championship, but we are. When it happened against Villa, I went out with my dad on the Monday and had a few pints. We had a talk and I said, 'I still can't believe it'. All the players were devastated. He said, 'What are you going to do son?' I said, 'I'm going to get us back up as quickly as possible'.[LNB] `I've been at the club six months and I have my views on where it has gone wrong, and could go on about them all day, but that's not down to me. We are in this situation because massive mistakes have been made, whether that is from upstairs, on the park, the manager or whatever.[LNB] `We have to eradicate those mistakes and get back as soon as possible, and start rebuilding. This could have been one of the best things that has happened to the club.[LNB] `No disrespect, but we could end up like a Leeds, Charlton or Southampton unless we get things right. The club has been at the top for a long time, but it doesn't mean if you spend a lot of money on the best players, you have a divine right to be in the Premier League. We proved that last year. Now it's about us making sure we get back up there. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley, Michael Chopra, Kevin Nolan, Alan ShearerPlaces:Newcastle, Leeds, Republic of Ireland, St James' Park
