Chris seeks new assistant as Colin Calderwood leaves
Oct 19 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
AFTER a turbulent 24 hours on Tyneside, Newcastle United have begun the search for a new assistant manager to support under-pressure boss Chris Hughton.
A busy day for the United chief, which began with a court appearance for his newly anointed number nine Andy Carroll, ended with Colin Calderwood departing for the manager’s post at Scottish Premier League side Hibernian.
Hughton will meet with the board this morning to discuss candidates to take over, with former assistant John Carver and Steve Clarke understood to be among the front runners.
Carver is currently Gary Speed’s number two at Sheffield United and only signed a three-year deal at Bramall Lane in August.
Clarke, another highly-rated former United assistant, turned down the Hibs job and is available for nothing.
An internal appointment should not be ruled out but Steve Stone and Peter Beardsley have only just taken over the reserve team – while it would also be a big step up for Academy boss Joe Joyce.
It is probably the last thing that Hughton would have wanted to deal with as he prepares for a huge series of games that begins at West Ham on Saturday evening, before a Carling Cup clash with Arsenal and a hugely significant Tyne-Wear derby.
The manager himself awoke to reports yesterday morning that his job was only saved by Fabricio Coloccini’s last-minute leveller against Wigan.
The club were at pains to deny that yesterday, but a run of three home games without a win has certainly put his future under scrutiny for the first time.
The departure of Calderwood capped an eventful day for Newcastle, with Hughton no doubt aware that the pressure is building on the club – not least that from the supporters.
Shorn of loyal lieutenant Calderwood, the Newcastle manager now faces huge selection dilemmas surrounding striker Carroll, struggling right-back James Perch and skipper Kevin Nolan, himself at the centre of a fitness riddle at the weekend.
