Source: Northern_Echo
United win again and Hughton wants top job
CHRIS Hughton last night watched his Newcastle side maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and immediately staked his claim for a permanent managerial position should Mike Ashley take the Magpies off the market.
While Tyneside businessman Barry Moat was again in attendance at St James Park, and former Tottenham defender Graham Roberts claims to have put together a supporters group with the hope of buying Newcastle United, Ashley is expected to admit defeat in his attempts to sell the club if progress is not made before the weekend.
That would leave the sportswear magnate looking for a new manager, with both Joe Kinnear and David OLeary having turned down his initial advances in the last two weeks.
Hughtons name has rarely been mentioned as a longterm managerial option, but the former Tottenham coach has guided the Magpies to third place in the Championship table despite continuing off-field uncertainty.
He accepts he will almost certainly be removed from his position if Ashley severs his ties with Tyneside, but hopes to be considered for a full-time post if a new owner cannot be found.
If the club is sold at any stage, then possibly I might get a knock on the door and be told things will change, said Hughton, who watched Shola Ameobis fourth goal in two games secure victory over the Owls. But Ive very much enjoyed the challenge so far and am very happy to continue it until told otherwise.
The most important thing for me is to focus on the job Im doing. But if that takes me through a lot longer period than I originally anticipated then I will be very happy to do that.
Weve started well, and weve also managed to restrict the injuries and keep more or less a fully-fit squad. So at the moment, I think were as healthy as we can be.
As a coaching staff, I think we deserve some credit for that.
Weve also had a smashing group of lads who have remained here and are fighting for the cause. If anything, all of this has brought them closer as a group of lads.
Ameobi followed up Saturdays hat-trick with a clinical 15th-minute strike, and Hughton feels the striker is currently playing with a great deal of confidence thanks to his purple patch in front of goal.
I thought it was a wonderful finish, he said. Shola struck the ball very early, but if youre a striker coming off the back of a hat-trick, youre bound to be confident.
Meanwhile, Damien Duff has revealed his frustration at events at St James Park, claiming his move to Fulham was a no-brainer.
The Republic of Ireland international completed a £4m switch to Craven Cottage at the start of the week, and immediately cited Fulhams behind- the-scenes stability as a key factor in his move.
The players didnt know what was going on up there (at Newcastle), said Duff. It was definitely the hardest part of my career. It didnt work out, I wasnt enjoying my football and I had to move on.
I played for four managers last season. Thats not a good base for any team to work well. Thats no excuse we went down and deserved to but theres a lot of stability at Fulham, not just with the manager but in the team as well.
Its going to be tough to break into the side, but as soon as I heard Fulham were interested it was a no-brainer to come here.
