Former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has been spending his time this season as an occasional pundit after being surprisingly sacked by Brighton last May.
The 61-year-old was able to keep the Seagulls up for the second straight season, but the club opted to go in another direction and hired Graham Potter, who has done an admirable job thus far.
One thing about Brighton is that they made their decision quickly to allow Potter a full preseason with the club.
Hughton has not been idle since leaving Brighton and has continued to watch games. He was recently linked with the Watford job last December before the Hornets settled on Nigel Pearson, who was a Newcastle caretaker manager on two occasions.
He also reportedly turned down the Stoke City job in October but is still itching to get back if the right opportunity arises.
Chronicle Live have done an extensive interview with Hughton in which he touches upon his future as well as how he thinks the rest of the season could go if it gets back underway.
This is some of what Chris had to say:
“As with most football people, you’re itching to get back in and really looking for the right opportunity to get back in as quickly as possible but, of course, other things take precedence and for what we’re going through at the moment, that overrides everything.
“But what we all do know is that once we get to a stage where hopefully we’re on better days, where this virus is under control, and there is some normality back, and I’m talking about football matches, then it will be full steam ahead again.
“What you are going to get is teams who are just outside the promotion six, some just outside of relegation and some in the relegation places and once we start again, it’s full systems go.
“It’s opportunities for those who weren’t doing so well to do well, and it’s a fear that those who were doing well might not do so well. Once it starts back, it will be full steam ahead.”
There was a report yesterday that the Premier League is hoping for a return in June. Though that will ultimately depend on the coronavirus being fully contained.
Hughton has a lot of experience in management, but there’s nothing to prepare any manager for what we’re going through now. As Chris says, there will be some clubs that handle these unfamiliar circumstances well and others that just will not.
A lot will depend on the ability of managers to get their squads prepared and focused on the task at hand if this season does get back underway.
62 comments so far
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:01 PM
Comment #1I met Chris once, really nice man, very accommodating. It made me think “is he too nice for management” he’s proved he isn’t.
I’d have taken him over Bruce if it was a option, can’t see him ever coming back.
I wish him good luck always, love to see him back in the Prem.
hibbit
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:13 PM
Comment #2i see Basset has stopped waving his little red book , i wounder why????
“China has been accused of significantly downplaying its official virus cases, with some estimates suggesting their death toll could be as high as 40,000.
So far China has officially recorded more than 81,000 cases with over 3,300 deaths.
But activists in Wuhan, where the outbreak began, claimed funeral homes are handing out 500 urns a day each, more than necessary for the 2,548 people who have officially died of the virus there.
Long queues at the funeral homes have fueled skepticism about China’s numbers, prompting claims that 42,000 people or more could have died in Wuhan.”
hibbit
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:16 PM
Comment #3“truth will out.”
lochinvar
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:16 PM
Comment #4Sadly Pep Guardiola’s Mum has passed away as a result of the virus.
lochinvar
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:18 PM
Comment #5hibbitt
sobering thought.
It seemed curious that Chinese media described their victims of the virus as “martyrs”. That sounds wrong as if it’s some sort of cause they were fighting for albeit without their knowledge.
lochinvar
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:23 PM
Comment #6MandS handing out pay rises as are BT plus a £500 bonus for being at work.
Sports Direct go in the opposite direction
Wonder what the Government will do for NHS staff ?
hibbit
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:27 PM
Comment #7Danny Rose doing the right thing
https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/04/newcastle-united-player-sends-surprise-delivery-of-hundreds-of-pizzas-to-nhs-staff-danny-rose/
Ron Knee
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:45 PM
Comment #8RIP Honor Blackman
Ron Knee
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:45 PM
Comment #9She was 94!
Rotonda heights
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:51 PM
Comment #10Has Ash ever done a philanthropic act? never seen his name linked to charity etc.
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 4:52 PM
Comment #11Jabba is pure human garbage
A walking turd
Driven by greed, spite and a colossal ego
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:01 PM
Comment #12Ron Knee
Jeez, Honor Blackman 94? That’s surprised me.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:05 PM
Comment #13Bill’s son
A clique is usually a sub-group within a larger group and that being the case, one would expect its opinions to be at variance with the majority.
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Comment #14Anglo, its nice when a thicko like yu just does my work for me:
“Like it or not I R I S H boy your under our rule Prick. ”
So…..we have abusive language which people here are so touchy about ….will anyone castigate him?
And….we have political simplicity too as Ireland is now under “our” rule ( I presume you mean the UK ) in Anglo’s strange world.
🙂
Ron Knee
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Comment #15lesh
She played in A Night to Remember (1958)!
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:12 PM
Comment #16lochinvar
Add Morrisons to your list of companies which know how to motivate employees. They doled out a employee bonus a few days ago.
You ask what this lot’ll do for the NHS staff and all others who’ve gone beyond expectations?
Ah, well, you see, that’s a bit tricky because all the money that was borrowed to help maintain the economy, needs to be paid back and much as they’d love to offer financial recognition……blah blah blah
Anglo Saxon
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:13 PM
Comment #17Does your work EH that speaks volumes.
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:13 PM
Comment #18Is this the part where we are all supposed to just forget about the club being sold ?
Just let it all blow over ?
Dont forget to snap up those season tickets
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Comment #19Ron Knee
I remember that film and it was shown on TV a few weeks ago. And she played a part? I must look out for her next time I watch it.
Just thinking about the dance-band on deck reminds me of hopeful fans supporting NUFC as the Titanic’s owner goes down with the ship
Anglo Saxon
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:18 PM
Comment #20Munster look down at your wellies make sure they’re on the right feet R=right foot L=left foot.
lochinvar
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:27 PM
Comment #21We’ve both just joined the NMST (no more season ticket ) club.
It wasn’t that difficult but should improve my golf handicap as well as spending more family time.
Will still support the toon but in a different way now.
Can I stay on the blog please ?
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:28 PM
Comment #22Oh look everyone, he displays humour too!
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:29 PM
Comment #23What an interesting find Anglo is, splendid.
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Comment #24Hibbitt thanks for highlighting that. Fair play to Rose
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:45 PM
Comment #25i’m confident about the sale of our club and i’m staying confident …
Jib
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Comment #26Tom
I was rather hoping for some news today
Jib
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:49 PM
Comment #27No news is good news I guess
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:56 PM
Comment #28Yeh if i was selling a company i would run off to as far away from it as possible too
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 5:57 PM
Comment #29Jib …
i reckon a couple of weeks time we will hear some good news mate …
toon22
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Comment #30Yeh
Id also get involved in some penny pinching that results in a wave of shocking bad PR
Money he wouldnt see as he is selling apparently, nice of him to save the new owners some cash
And take all the bad PR that came with it
Who do you think he will sell us to next time ?
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:04 PM
Comment #31Me
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:06 PM
Comment #32Frog, did you get to jail the fat man yet, no?
Munster Mag
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:08 PM
Comment #33Jib we have to stick to basics. Credible journos, wall street journal, no denials from Reuben’s. And I think they denied involvement in previous bids? Can anyone confirm that?
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:12 PM
Comment #34Bowis still running the country from his hospital bed? Just as well they installed a hot-line to Cummings!
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:14 PM
Comment #35Idris Elba hasn’t denied smoking baby brains. .
Must be true.
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:14 PM
Comment #36geordietom
A couple of weeks you reckon? We can but hope.
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:14 PM
Comment #37toon22 …
i think your shitting it …
geordietom
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:15 PM
Comment #38lesh …
as do we all mate …
lesh
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:16 PM
Comment #39Munster Mag
I’m not sure about the Reuben brothers denying involvement. I think one of them had been involved but was persuaded to withdraw his support. It’s matterless, it’s history, water under the bridge.
WLtoon
Apr 6, 2020 at 6:17 PM
Comment #40Keep the cans chilled lads, i too reckon next week is the big reveal HWTL