Newcaste United managing director Lee Charnley is set to open ‘formal talks’ with former Derby County manager Steve McClaren, according to The Northern Echo.
Charnley is looking to appoint a new permanent head coach to ensure that the club doesn’t go through another relegation battle next season. John Carver, the current interim coach, is likely to stay with the club but not in the same role. McClaren is at the top of the managerial shortlist set by Charnley and will be contacted for further discussions.
Newcastle were already rejected by McClaren after he was offered a fire-fighting role for the final three games of the season. He preferred to stay with Derby County instead but was sacked after the season ended. The Magpies weren’t pleased by his rejection, but believe it won’t be a problem. It is reported that the 54-year old has been a priority candidate since the departure of Alan Pardew in December.
McClaren is not the only manager that Newcastle will approach in the next week. The new appointment will be the first recruitment by Charnley, and he’ll be looking at all possible options. The Magpies have also shortlisted Remi Garde, Christophe Galtier and Michael Laudrup as other potential candidates for the role. They have also been linked with Burton boss Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, but the club has rubbished these rumours.
Newcastle survived the drop on the last day of the season with a 2-0 win against West Ham. The club is need of a summer revamp and wants to appoint a head coach as soon as possible to start the ‘radical summer surgery’. Mike Ashley promised that he would invest heavily into the club this summer to avoid a repeat of a disastrous campaign.
