Managers job hope won’t be hurt by NUFC slump in form

Oct 21 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton is confident that Newcastle United’s alarming slump in form will not affect his chances of being offered the manager’s job on a permanent basis.

A frustrated Hughton held a dressing room inquest after United’s fourth game without a win – a result which leaves them perched precariously in the promotion places and just one place ahead of North East rivals Middlesbrough.

It was a deeply dissatisfying defeat for Hughton that came at the worst possible time as he prepares for crunch job talks with owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias in the next 48 hours.

He had effectively been offered the job a fortnight ago but chose to delay official talks until after the Forest and Scunthorpe matches – both of which Newcastle have lost. And although they improved hugely on their insipid defeat at the City Ground, a much brighter display at Glanford Park will not ease the worries of supporters who have seen United fail to register a win since the 4-0 victory over Ipswich.

Insisting that his focus was on the defeat, Hughton was reluctant to be drawn on the meeting that will take place later this week but when pressed said that he thought nothing would have changed. “I don’t think it will have any effect at all,” he said.

“As far as I know nothing is different and I am still very confident that the situation has not changed.

“My thoughts at the moment are about the result that we didn’t get. It will be difficult but we need to set out to go and win the game. That is the same with all the staff and players.” Hughton can point to a lack of resources which forced him to send out a patched-up defence but he refused to blame his threadbare squad – which Ashley is reluctant to provide funds to improve.

“I can’t look at any excuses. It’s a team game and we didn’t defend moments well enough,” he said.

“In every team if you are going to get a couple of injuries you’re going to be stretched. I won’t bring in loan players willy-nilly – if you know they are out long-term you address it but Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini will be back.