There’s many things about Chris Hughton that we’ve learned to admire  over these last 16 months.

Chris Hughton – this man is the salt of the earth

And after he really surprised us as Newcastle manager last season, and pulled the club together, and basically helped save us from disaster with the help of some of our mature senior players, he has carried on this season.

And today Newcastle are in a very decent 9th place in the Premier League,  which could even rise to 7th place after today’s two matches.

And Chris seems to have no ego at all, as he is willing to wait patiently for the Newcastle club to start new contract negotiations with him, as he himself is working his socks off to tie down good players at the club, which Newcastle did with Andy Carroll, Nile Ranger and Mike Williamson recently.

Anybody with an ego would be insulted by Newcastle delaying contract negotiations,  after all Chris has done for Newcastle in a very short 16 months – but not this quiet and unassuming London gentleman, and make no mistake Chris is a gentleman in the true sense of the word.

One definition of gentleman – a well-mannered and considerate man with high standards of proper behavior – that’s Chris alright.

And that’s only one reason why the other PL managers seem to like the man so much.

This is what Chris Hughton said today regarding his own contract negotiations:

“What I have always done throughout this period – and I am of course aware of some of the things that have been said regarding my contract – is what I would like to think I do best and that is put my head down and work as hard as I can,”

“There is only one ultimate aim for me and that is to get the best results for the football team.” “Through all of this you have to try to be oblivious to everything that is going on around, because if you take it on board too readily it will affect the job you are doing.”

“My focus has always been 100 per cent on getting results for the team because if you aren’t getting results for the team then people will be talking about something else.” “The club came out with the statement that the intention was to address my contract at the end of this year and the end of this year, I presume, means the end of December,”

“We are now into December so hopefully those talks will start soon.”

Chris is one of the hardest working people we have known, and he is said to regularly put 12 hour days in at Newcastle, so hard work is something Chris seems to thrive on.

And maybe our players, seeing this news today, can put in a special effort this afternoon at the Hawthorns, and get a good victory for Newcastle, which will surely help Chris in his bid to stay in the best job he’s ever had, and stay on Tyneside as long-term manager of Newcastle United.

Sounds good to us.

Comments welcome.