Venables
Reject
Terry Venables has rejected the chance to manage Newcastle
United after a second day of talks in London, according to
reports.
Empics
Venables: Not happy with Toon offer
It is understood that the former England manager was unhappy
with owner Mike Ashley's offer of the manager's role on a
match-by-match basis, preferring a fixed-term contract.
The news is expected to be broadly welcomed on Tyneside with
scpetical fans viewing 65-year-old Venables as another addition to
the 'cockney mafia' running the club.
The popularity of London-based vice-president Tony Jimenez,
managing director Derek Llambias and executive director Dennis Wise
reached an all-time low with Magpies fans after Kevin Keegan was
ousted from the manager's seat earlier this month.
With Ashley courting suitors for a potential £350 million
takeover Newcastle's hierarchy are only looking to secure an
interim manager, not a long-term appointment.
A crowd of just 20,577 turned up to watch Newcastle slip out of
the Carling Cup at home to holders Tottenham on Wednesday night,
when defensive errors and a clear lack of confidence amongst the
players allowed Spurs to put their own woes behind them.
The Magpies face Blackburn in the Premier League on Saturday
when the rebellion against Ashley is likely to increase in volume
if they do not end a run of four successive defeats in all
competitions.
Other names mentioned in relation to the Magpies hotseat,
currently occupied by caretaker Chris Hughton, include Glenn Hoddle
and David O'Leary.
