Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Steve McClaren has been appointed as the Newcastle United Manager on an initial 3 year contract which could be extended to as long 8 years. In addition to this appointment the 54 year old has also been named on the club’s board.
It’s all change in the boardroom as Mike Ashley has removed himself from boardroom level but will stay on as the owner of Newcastle. Ashley said after the appointment of McClaren was announced that “I’m determined to give the supporters a team they can be proud of.”
After trying twice to entice to Steve McClaren to the club while he was in charge of Derby County, Mike Ashley finally got his man at the third time of asking. This move was finally enabled after the sacking of Caretaker Manager John Carver yesterday evening.
Now finally at the helm, the ex Middlesbrough Manager will have his work cut out and try to lift the spirits of a club who were very close to rock bottom last season and only secured safety on the last day after beating West Ham to send Hull down to The Championship.
Steve McClaren told the press”This club has waited far too long to win a trophy. That’s one of my primary objectives here. I’ve already won trophies as a manager, and a club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight in the Premier League.”
Will Mike Ashley stay true to his word when interviewed on the last day of the season when he said that he was willing to invest the club and wouldn’t stop until they had won silverware. Newcastle have gone backwards over the last couple of season as their best players are getting sold off to boost the bottom line but realistically I think The Magpies will just take a season of stability next time around and then look to use that as a platform to finally try and deliver some silverware.
As for John Carver, I think his reputation as a top level coach is almost beyond salvation. He’ll now forever be known as the man who very nearly sent Newcastle down, it seems as just having love for the club isn’t enough of an attribute to be a top level manager in English Football.
