Sensational news reported late last night that Mike Ashley has had a falling out with Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, who is said to have already left the Tyneside club.
Chris Hughton – not really surprised at his sacking
This is almost unbelievable as Chris has almost succeeded in seeing Newcastle back into the Premier League at his first attempt, but there has been a huge reported blow-up between manager and owner.
We understand that over the last few weeks there has been tension between the two men, and inside sources have revealed it’s due to some average performances recently put in by the side.
There is also some talk that the reason Chris has been fired is so that Newcastle are free to go after Jose Mourinho this summer,
It seems that Jose is determined to leave Inter-Milan and initial contact made by the club suggests he would jump at the chance to join Newcastle United, the home town club of his former mentor, the great Bobby Robson.
While Newcastle seem to have been doing well in the league, it seems that it wasn’t good enough for Mike Ashley and particularly for Managing Director Derek Llambias.
Derek explained the sacking late last night:
“This has been brewing for some time.””While we have been generally pleased with what Chris and the team have done this season, we have been rather disappointed at the recent dropping of points at both Middlesbrough and Bristol City.”
“We also believe that Newcastle should have scored more goals than just two on Monday night, so Mike decided now was the right time to make the change.”
“We are already looking at a replacement and have a short list of three with Jose Morinho our preferred choice, but Sven Eriksson and Fabio Capello – if he leaves the England job after the World Cup – are also in with a chance.”
“Rafael Benittez called last night when he heard the news, but we had to tell him his record at Liverpool wouldn’t cut the mustard at Newcastle and we would not consider him for the Newcastle position.”
“It was really tough to watch a grown man cry so so much, but what more can i say?”
When contacted late last night at his home in Newcastle, Chris Hughton was magnanimous about his rather sudden and dramatic dismissal, and issued the following statement through the LMA (League Managers Association):
“This may be a surprise to Newcastle supporters, but I saw it coming over the last two or three weeks. Those two away draws were just not good and I knew it at the time.”
“And Monday night was basically it, because I knew Mike would be disappointed at only a two goal win against a side we really should have torn apart.”
“But I accept the decision and will be saying farewell to the players tomorrow morning at the Benton training grounds.:
“Yes, I hope to back into management again, maybe with a Conference club – if they’ll have me.”
We expected that from Chris, who has always been a gentleman while managing Newcastle on a permanent basis since last October, and to think we thought he had done quite well this season.
It’s so hard to explain this rather surprising news, other than to say that Alan Shearer was appointed manager on this same day last year – April 1st.
57 comments so far
BruneiToooN
Apr 1, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Comment #1what?
BruneiToooN
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:00 AM
Comment #2is it one of the April’s Fool Joke?
Vincent Lim
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:00 AM
Comment #3lol
Jsama
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:04 AM
Comment #4huh, think it’s just 1st April joke…. 😐
toonie
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Comment #5Ed,
You got be hook line and stinker !!!
toonie
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Comment #6I bet there are a few doing a Victor Meldrue !!!
ToonSnowman
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Comment #7You got my workmate hook line and sinker isn’t that right Mikey :p
with this type of story you could write for The Sun 😀
NUFCELITE
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Comment #8Nice try mate april fools.
Tom Mo.
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:29 AM
Comment #9WHAT. no way
grahamnufc
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:37 AM
Comment #10Nice try.
Tim
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:46 AM
Comment #11good april fool ed! i was almost crying lol
BruneiToooN
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:48 AM
Comment #12-Jose Mourinho to be NUFC manager
-Another Dubai investor replace Mike Ashley and provide NUFC with unlimited budget
-Messi interested in joining NUFC
hehe
nightfa11
Apr 1, 2010 at 1:50 AM
Comment #13nice lambias quotes ;D u had me there for a sec..ok…minute ;D
Robby Bobson
Apr 1, 2010 at 2:18 AM
Comment #14Not this time Ed, not this time hehe.
Robby Bobson
Apr 1, 2010 at 2:21 AM
Comment #15the sun are at it as well….
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2915909/See-the-incredible-new-innovation-set-to-take-football-by-storm.html
Tramp
Apr 1, 2010 at 2:35 AM
Comment #16Come home after one too many newcy broons and a curry to read this!
Bahahahahaa! I love it.
🙂
This made my night!
Good night!
x
nicholasnufc
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:12 AM
Comment #17Haha thats a good one Ed. It really got me until the Rafael Benitez part.
He called and then cried? Ha ha
Happy April Fool!!!!
dobbo
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:19 AM
Comment #18who wouldnt want mourhino, here, lets just say that if nufc could guarantee his coming would anyone on here not welcome it, regardless of what hughton has done.
ed, nearly had me!
xfer
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:23 AM
Comment #19Lol. Jose interested? And we rejected benitez? Haha!
Sgt. Heagerty
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:28 AM
Comment #20My wife just put me on the couch tonight boys for yelling and waking my kids…haha I bout had a heart attack. Im sure yall could here me on tyneside all the way from St. Louis, Missouri, usa. Wow, my heart is still beating fast. Good one ed, you got me. If i would have kept reading right away i would have caught it but i was too busy screaming in disbelief. All is well in my world now, as it seemed my life was crumbling before me 5 minutes ago…haha
All the way from USA,
Howay the lads!!!
xfer
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:36 AM
Comment #21Not that serious mate… Jose Morinho, Sven Eriksson and Fabio Capello!
VanCanToonFan
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:52 AM
Comment #22Damn, dude, it’s still March 30 here in Vancouver!
ginkoh
Apr 1, 2010 at 3:53 AM
Comment #23Come on Ed, You can do better. hehe.
dobbo
Apr 1, 2010 at 4:25 AM
Comment #24to add a footnote, its something that this lot, could have actually done, and judging by those who believed, wouldnt have put it past them.
they’ve still got to go regardless, cockney w*****s
NUFCELITE
Apr 1, 2010 at 4:48 AM
Comment #25dobbo wash your mouth out with soap.
tripp
Apr 1, 2010 at 4:59 AM
Comment #26Happy April First, Ed. Sussed it directly but funny as hell. I can imagine some of those quotes actually being said.
Thump
Apr 1, 2010 at 5:19 AM
Comment #27Haha, you had me going until I read your picture caption.
Well done.
dobbo
Apr 1, 2010 at 5:39 AM
Comment #28hands up who wouldnt want mourhino here?…thought as much.
Toonmania
Apr 1, 2010 at 5:41 AM
Comment #29had me going there for a couple of secs ed!! but even though you gest at the idea of Jose Morinho i think this is one club he would come too and he’s not happy in italy so you never know in the future
Thump
Apr 1, 2010 at 5:48 AM
Comment #30Yes dobbo, I would love Mourinho here but can you see Ashley splashing the cash on his kind of players?
Aye, thought not.
Rotonda heights
Apr 1, 2010 at 6:30 AM
Comment #31Very lame Ed, but no doubt some half heads fell for it !!!
Edd Case
Apr 1, 2010 at 6:35 AM
Comment #32Hahaha, I nearly fell for this because lets face it, this is Newcastle and ANYTHING is possible.
Nice one Ed, made me laugh.
will die for the toon army
Apr 1, 2010 at 6:40 AM
Comment #33Ed nice try but It would have been better if u went for that MA is in talks to sell NUFC. That wld have turned heads because that is a little bit true.
Captain Beefheart
Apr 1, 2010 at 6:44 AM
Comment #34Ed, Mourinho’s teams would have settled for a 1-0 against Forest, and for all of the other home games for that matter – yawn! The posing one is bluntly effective but without Sir Bobby’s flair for goals and entertaining footy, so we’ll pass on that one anyway thank you.
Now let’s clinically put the Posh out of their relegation misery and Geordies worldwide out of 12 months of this fizzy pop torture.
geoff777
Apr 1, 2010 at 6:55 AM
Comment #35Can’t believe you wasted twenty minutes of your life writing this … I hate the internet on April 1st its pathetic.
Solaidback
Apr 1, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Comment #36If this isn’t true, then its the most diabolical trick ever 🙁
lesh
Apr 1, 2010 at 8:07 AM
Comment #37And the Pope’s been lined up as director of youth development !
Whumpie
Apr 1, 2010 at 8:08 AM
Comment #38What a great tribute to CH! How many managers have done that well that his sacking could only be a wind-up??
Nice one Ed.
boater
Apr 1, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Comment #39Haha well done Ed. Kudos.
DrMagpie
Apr 1, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Comment #40You almost gave me an heart attack!