Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson would be interested in
talking to Newcastle about the vacant manager's job.
There has been no contact between the Magpies and the Swede's
representatives in the wake of Glenn Roeder's departure.
However, his agent Athole Still has revealed the job at St James'
Park is just the kind he would seriously consider.
Eriksson fared well in a phone poll of fans carried out by
Newcastle-based radio station Metro, although he is not understood
to figure high on chairman Freddy Shepherd's shortlist, which is
topped by overwhelming favourite Sam Allardyce with Lyon manager
Gerard Houllier today emerging as a surprise candidate.
Still told PA Sport: 'There has been no contact whatsoever, but if
Newcastle were interested in Sven-Goran Eriksson, I am sure
Sven-Goran Eriksson would be interested in talking to
Newcastle.'
Only last month, Shepherd dismissed speculation Eriksson was being
lined up to replace Roeder.
However, the 51-year-old's resignation on Sunday saw Allardyce
swiftly installed as the main contender with most bookmakers
suspending betting.
Allardyce's own departure from Bolton with two years of his
contract still to run means there is an issue of compensation and
that could yet prove a stumbling block, while allegations made
against him - which he strongly denied - by the Panorama bungs
programme are a further complicating factor.
Eriksson's pedigree means the link is inevitable, although Shepherd
has repeatedly played down an interest in the man who quit as
England manager after last summer's World Cup finals.
He has been touted for virtually every high-profile job which has
come up since, although is awaiting the right opportunity.
Still said: 'Sven is very keen to get back into club football and
he would be interested in talking to any club which had real
ambition.'
