Scottish Mag 3 Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Martin O'Neill, the clear favourite to become the next manager at St James's Park, is expected to meet the Football Association's chief executive Brian Barwick this week to discuss succeeding Sven-Göran Eriksson as England coach. And although the news will not alarm Newcastle officials, who have always known that they will face stiff competition to secure the services of the in-demand Irishman, the negotiations will ensure the intensification of the search for a permanent successor to Graeme Souness. Reports emanating from Loerrach, the home town of Ottmar Hitzfeld, last night claimed the popular German had been sounded out about moving to Tyneside. Newcastle are drawing up contingency plans in case they fail to land O'Neill and are understood to be considering David Moyes as a fall-back option. And sources on Merseyside last night insisted that the Everton manager had emerged as a strong candidate for the United job. But, as is expected to be the case with all the leading candidates on Freddie Shepherd's shortlist, no binding offers are likely to be made until O'Neill's intentions have been ascertained. Barwick is nearing the end of a laborious process, in which he has held informal talks with several coaches to help him compile a list of interviewees for a job Eriksson will vacate after this summer's World Cup finals. Portugal's former Brazil boss Felipe Scolari met FA officials last week. O'Neill is scheduled to follow and it seems that he will be interviewed in regard to taking charge of England. The former Celtic manager is understood to have been Shepherd's first choice ever since he sacked Souness last month and, despite talk of O'Neill having turned down the Newcastle job, he remains the bookmakers' favourite. That he is preparing to meet Barwick should aid United's search for a new manager. The sooner Shepherd knows whether O'Neill will accept the FA's advances, the sooner he can take the next step in appointing Souness' long-term successor. Although the name of Hitzfeld has vanished from the lists of contenders in recent weeks, the decorated German remains the subject of a concerted internet campaign by Newcastle fans who are keen to see his appointment. They will have been greatly encouraged by reports in the local Loerrach newspapers, in which it was claimed that a source close to Hitzfeld had confirmed that an approach from St James's Park had been made. Although Shepherd has always insisted that he would be prepared to wait until this summer to make the right appointment, the sooner he can find a new manager the better. With Glenn Roeder's lack of coaching qualifications likely to mean he has to relinquish control before the end of the season, it would be preferable to make an appointment next month. With any new manager likely to want to make great changes to an underperforming squad, the chance to see United's players in action during the final weeks of the campaign could prove to be invaluable. Managerial matters will not be of great concern this week, with the Magpies facing a match at Stamford Bridge tomorrow in which defeat would spell a premature end to their season. Full focus will be given to beating Chelsea but, should Newcastle fail, planning for next term can begin in earnest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 1 Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Source? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 35527 Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Chronicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26806 Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 According to NO O'Neill has met Barwick today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CrimsonFault Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 According to NO O'Neill has met Barwick today. 108725[/snapback] Must be true. Theyre always reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shak 0 Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 According to NO O'Neill has met Barwick today. 108725[/snapback] Must be true. Theyre always reliable. 108727[/snapback] Came from Martin Jol, who's generally quite a reliable poster. Personally I reckon it's O'Neill's if he wants it, but if he turns it down we may see Hitzfeld offered the job. Wheter Hitzfeld takes it or not would be a different story, the Germany job among others may become available this summer so he may wait and see what transpires, which would leave us in limbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted March 21, 2006 Author Share Posted March 21, 2006 Came from Martin Jol, who's generally quite a reliable poster. 108732[/snapback] Like the time he said we were signing Waaaaaaaaaakeeen (Joaquin) in January? Joking aside he is a good poster, though to be honest its no great surprise that O Neills talking to the FA i think most managers would. Even if they do not want the job it will help them negotiate a better contract at their respective clubs etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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