Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Magpies have no Tel plans

24 Mar 2009 - 11:17:28

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Newcastle United have dismissed reports suggesting they were considering appointing Terry Venables as a temporary manager in a bid to boost their survival hopes.

Caretaker management duo Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood are currently in charge of first-team affairs at St James' Park.

The pair were handed the reins when Joe Kinnear was hospitalised last month but have been unable to improve the struggling club's fortunes following his subsequent triple heart bypass operation.

The Magpies slipped into the relegation zone after losing 3-1 to Arsenal on Saturday but, although Kinnear is not due back at work until mid-April at the earliest, the club's hierarchy have no plans to make a temporary management appointment.

Former England boss Venables was linked with a role at St James' Park in Tuesday's newspapers.

Meanwhile, fit-again defender Habib Beye has provided the ailing club with a boost by declaring himself ready to return from a four-month ankle ligament injury lay-off.

The return of the Senegal international will help offset the loss of fellow defenders Steven Taylor and Sebastien Bassong to injury in recent days.

"I have been out for a long time but I feel good and will use the (international) break to work on my condition," he told the club's official website.

"I have to be ready to play every game and I will be ready. It is a bonus for me to be able to play because we thought I would be out for longer.

"Now I am back I will be doing all I can to save this club."