Chris Hughton to be named Newcastle boss

Oct 23 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

CHRIS Hughton should be confirmed as Newcastle United’s permanent manager before tomorrow’s match against Doncaster Rovers following a series of constructive meetings with managing-director Derek Llambias.

The Journal understands Hughton will be offered a contract until the end of the season, with the option of another year should owner Mike Ashley decide to keep the club.

Hughton has 18 months left on his existing deal as first-team coach and, while the terms will be improved, the agreement will simply replace the one he already had at St James’s Park.

United sources are adamant the consecutive defeats at Nottingham Forest and Scunthorpe have done nothing to damage Hughton’s position and talks regarding the terms of the contract are expected to reach a conclusion today.

That will see Hughton’s installation as manager, although Ashley is still undecided as to whether he should give up on trying to sell the club until the end of the season.

It is thought United’s owner is tempted to keep the door open for a potential takeover, even if Barry Moat fails to come up with the £80m up front he has been asked for this week.

However, he does not want that to disrupt things on the pitch, and feels the decision to give Hughton more long-term authority will give the team the best possible chance of making an immediate return to the top flight.