Newcastle United Football Club

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

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52193

Venables rejects Magpies job

26 Sep 2008 - 07:20:42

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Terry Venables has turned down the opportunity to become the interim manager of Newcastle United due to the ongoing uncertainty at St James' Park.

The 65-year-old former England manager was approached by Magpies officials earlier in the week about the possibility of taking over first-team affairs at the for sale club.

Owner Mike Ashley put the club up for sale after coming under fire following Kevin Keegan's decision to resign as manager at the beginning of the month.

But Venables, whose last coaching job was as a number two to Steve McClaren with the England national side, has revealed he opted not to take up the offer due to the uncertainty of the role.

"There is one reason and one reason alone why I've turned down the chance to take temporary charge at Newcastle - time," he told The Sun.

"Newcastle United means too much to too many people to take the job on a short-term basis.

"It demands total commitment and dedication from a manager who is prepared to throw himself heart and soul into the club.

"I didn't want to move up to Tyneside and find myself surplus to requirements before I'd even had the chance to get my teeth into the challenge.

"The way the job was offered to me meant that I might be working at St James' Park for two months, two years or two weeks. There was far too much uncertainty involved.

"All they could guarantee was that I'd be in a job until Mike Ashley sells the club whenever that might be.

"As flattered and honoured as I was to be approached by Newcastle, in the end it wasn't that difficult a decision for me to decline their offer."

The latest names to be linked with the managerial hot-seat on a short-term basis are former Premier League bosses Glenn Hoddle and David O'Leary.