Source: Daily_Mail
Alan Pardew set to be named Newcastle boss... but less than two per cent of fans are happy
Newcastle are on the brink of appointing Alan Pardew as the club's new manager.[LNB]Pardew emerged as a frontrunner for the post shortly after Chris Hughton was sacked on Monday and the former West Ham boss could be unveiled on Thursday.[LNB]Hughton was given his marching orders with the Magpies sitting in 11th place in the Premier League following Sunday's 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich.[LNB] Next in line: Pardew (left) could be in charge of Newcastle by the weekend after Hughton was shown the door[LNB]Former Republic of Ireland international Hughton was a fans' favourite at St James' Park after guiding the club to the Championship title following relegation from the top flight.[LNB]In contrast, Pardew attracted just 14 votes in a poll of supporters on who they wanted in the hotseat.[LNB]Hughton received more backing in the online survey carried out by the city's evening paper, the Evening Chronicle. [LNB]There were more than 1,000 responses to the poll with Pardew claiming just over one per cent of the vote - interestingly, Hughton managed three times that. [LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Has Ashley got it wrong by sacking Toon boss Hughton? Chris Hughton has sensationally been axed by Newcastle despite his impressive reign at St James' Park. The manager delivered promotion at the first attempt before comfortably guiding them to mid-table in the Premier League. Do you think chairman Mike Ashley has scored an own goal? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Predictably, Martin O'Neill, who is understood not to be one of the front-runners for the job, was a runaway favourite with a 42.3 per cent share, while Martin Jol attracted 32.8 per cent of the votes before it emerged that his interests may lie elsewhere. [LNB]Newcastle owner Mike Ashley hopes to have the new man in place by the weekend, when the Magpies entertain Liverpool in a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday. [LNB]Support for Pardew increased when it emerged that Jol's resignation from his job at Ajax was purely coincidental with the Dutchman also being linked with former club Hamburg. [LNB]Former Reading, Hammers, Charlton and Southampton boss Pardew was being quoted as a 1/4 to land the job by Ladbrokes this morning (Wednesday) with Alan Curbishley a distant second at 7/1 and former Chelsea No 2 Ray Wilkins the big mover at 8/1. [LNB]But what is clear is that whoever replaces Hughton will have to work under similar financial restrictions to those with which the former Republic of Ireland international had to deal during his time at the helm. [LNB]He was one of the lowest-paid managers in the Barclays Premier League and was told in the immediate aftermath of promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last summer that there would be no additional capital outlay on new signings. [LNB]Hughton was able to recruit the likes of Ivory Coast international Cheik Tiote, defenders James Perch and Sol Campbell, Dan Gosling and loan signing Hatem Ben Arfa, but all on a budget. [LNB]His successor may fare a little better, but Ashley is determined to reach the stage where a club which was debt-ridden when he bought it is self-sufficient sooner rather than later, and the retention of its Barclays Premier League status is key to that process. [LNB] Low note: Hughton's last game as Newcastle manager was a 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday[LNB] Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd insists Mike Ashley was right to sack Chris Hughton - and he would have done the same Martin Samuel: Hughton's end was a tawdry business, you can bet on itToon pick Pardew! Newcastle want new boss in for Liverpool showdownEXCLUSIVE: Newcastle need big name or Hughton axe is a joke, says EnriqueToon legend Shearer rules out a return to replace sacked boss HughtonIt's not rational! Arsenal boss Wenger slams Newcastle for sacking HughtonNEWCASTLE UNITED FC
