I was going to write about the up coming final round of Champions League group matches this week but the events at Newcastle United today have taken over the agenda!
Living in the North-East for the past ten years I have developed a soft spot for Newcastle and I was priviliged enough to meet Chris Hughton after their 1-0 win at The Emirates last month. He came across as a thoroughly decent chap and was clearly passionate about the club. But more importantly he had been doing a remarkable job.
When the club were relegated out of the Premier League in May 2009 it was widely expected that they would follow Leeds into oblivion. A once big club in freefall. But Hughton stepped in and despite having no money to spend he not only got the club promoted at the first attempt but won them the Championship.
Back in the Premier League, and still with very little money at his disposal, Hughton kept faith in the players who had won promotion and was rewarded with a solid start to the season. Not only had they enjoyed that fine win 1-0 at Arsenal but had also beaten neighbours Sunderland 5-1 and held champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile Andy Carroll was being capped by England as the improvements at the club were being recognised in higher places.
So, despite losing 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, a fifth match without a win, the club were lying comfortably in 11th place in the table, far better then even the most passionate Geordie would have predicted back in August.
So why has Hughton been sacked? It just does not make any sense. Rumour has it that owner Mike Ashley had wanted Martin O'Neill in charge for some time and the recent run of results has perhaps forced his hand.
But will O'Neill, or anyone else, do a better job? It seems unlikely. Where does Ashley seriously see the club? Champions League challengers? Top six? Not a chance. Just avoiding the drop would be considered a success and Hughton was going a long way towards achieving that.
We have always known that no manager is safe, with the possible exception of Sir Fergie and Arsene Wenger, but surely you would have expected someone who had saved the club from the abyss to be treated with far more dignity. Hughton certainly deserved that much at least. But with clowns like Ashley running our clubs it seems anything is possible...
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