Source: Northern_Echo
The waiting game
■ Shearer not prepared to hang on
■ Newcastle hero could take other role
■ Hughton still the man in command
ON the day Alan Shearer conceded his return to management might not be with Newcastle United, the man currently in charge at St James’ Park admitted he can only afford to take a shortterm view of the club’s playing affairs.
Chris Hughton suffered his first defeat in his eight matches as caretaker manager this season at Blackpool on Wednesday after winning over the minds of most fans for the way he has kept the players focused during a time of off-the-field turmoil.
He has spent the last two days trying to ensure his defeated personnel have regrouped to make an immediate return to winning ways when they meet Plymouth at St James’ Park today.
Hughton, who has recruited Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili, has so far been unable to strengthen his attacking options by acquiring loan signings, but he does hope to secure the arrival of Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood next week after being rebuffed by Fulham for Diomansy Kamara.
Whatever deals he is trying to set up are purely for a few months and making his recruits full-time transfers is something he would have to put to owner Mike Ashley.
Hughton is expected to carry on in his role as caretaker boss, while Shearer, the fans’ overwhelming choice to become the next permanent manager, has had to remain patient.
Yesterday, though, the former England striker appeared to hint that he was running out of patience when he was speaking at presentation at Newcastle’s School for Boys.
“I would love to get back into it.
“Despite what happened in my short spell at Newcastle I would dearly love to get back into the game. If everything was right then yeah,” said Shearer.
“If the job came up, or if a job was to come up, not necessarily Newcastle, then I would be interested.”
Hughton, who responded to Shearer’s comments by saying “that is probably the furthest thing from my mind”, wants to forget about such talk by focusing on trying to keep Newcastle in contention for a top-two place.
The uncertainty that still surrounds the managerial and ownership situation means Hughton is not really in a position to make longterm strategic decisions.
He said: “My employment has not changed.
“All I can do is wait for the call when it happens.
“I am being regularly updated but I suppose there are only two things they can tell me – either nothing has changed or something has changed.
“At this stage, all of my efforts have been very much taking the players into the season, taking them into hopefully a good start.
“But, of course, there are always contingency plans and other issues that will come along as the season goes on, such as how many players will be coming in during the next window.
“At the moment, I am doing everything a manager in this position would do.”
Wednesday’s defeat to Blackpool left Newcastle third in the Championship behind West Brom and Middlesbrough.
Hughton, though, is not worried that the midweek reverse is the start of a bad run, just an early wake up call.
“We are always going to be judged at every stage. It is something we have to accept as a club. We are in this division and we just have to make sure we put ourselves in the best possible position to be able to bounce straight back,”
said Hughton, who has Alan Smith available after suspension.
“We have not had what we would call a real comfortable game. We have had to battle hard for everything that we have got and I think that has hammered home to the players what a tough league this is.”
Having lost out to Middlesbrough for Hull striker Caleb Folan, Hughton also learned yesterday another potential signings, Everton’s James Vaughan, has joined Derby.
■ Newcastle and Ipswich have been given special dispensation to wear commemorative shirts when the sides meet at Portman Road a week today.
The shirts will be later auctioned in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which helps fund cancer research.
Ipswich will also mark the contribution by renaming their North Stand as the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.
