Source: Northern_Echo
St James’ should be key to any bid says Hughton
NEWCASTLE UNITED manager Chris Hughton last night claimed it would be a travesty if St James' Park did not form part of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.[LNB] The Magpies boss was speaking shortly after Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards quit from his role on the bid board throwing England's 2018 campaign into further turmoil.[LNB] Richards had been the bid's deputy chairman in charge of international relations and his resignation is seen in some circles as a damning vote of no confidence in Lord Triesman's leadership of a campaign that has been rocked by a series of setbacks in recent weeks.[LNB] Despite the moves at the heart of the bid, Hughton gave his wholehearted backing to St James' at the official departure of Newcastle- Gateshead's host city bid.[LNB] The document is heading for London, where it will be handed over to the England 2018 bid team tomorrow, when Sunderland will also present their official document to become a host city.[LNB] Newcastle's bid centres on being at the heart of the city and Hughton, whose team lead the Championship by two points, feels that history should count for an awful lot when the merits of the 16 cities bidding to be selected are considered.[LNB] A World Cup bid, without Newcastle and St James' is unthinkable, said Hughton.[LNB] This is one of the stadiums in my time as a manager, player or coach that I have always regarded as one of the massive venues that you look forward to coming to.[LNB] It's not just about the size of the stadium, it's also the atmosphere, the passion. St James' holds a part in every footballer's life, every football fan's life.[LNB] Newcastle is a likeable city. The people are good, friendly people and because the stadium is on the hill, right in the centre of the city, it's a very imposing feature.[LNB] There isn't anyone that comes through the city that doesn't see the wonder of St James'. You won't get that elsewhere. I couldn't see a World Cup bid without St James'.[LNB] Hughton and members of Newcastle's squad gathered at St James' yesterday afternoon with pupils from St Catherine's Primary School, Gateshead College's Sports teams and Wallsend Boys' Club.[LNB] With Sunderland's Stadium of Light also competing to play host to World Cup football come 2018, there are hopes that both of the North- East's competing venues will be selected.[LNB] And Hughton feels that it would be a short-sighted view to suggest that the England bid team should only choose one of the two from the region.[LNB] It's realistic that both cities could have it, said the Newcastle boss. What we are here is Newcastle and we are St James' Park. But what we are is a region and it's a very good proposition to have both venues.[LNB]
