ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Newcastle United - Add your thoughts on Hughton's sacking...

Add your thoughts on Hughton's sacking...

Posted by Marc Duffy on 12/06/2010

The boat has well and truely been rocked once more by the owner of our great football club. The majority of Newcastle United fans seem to be disgusted - I know I certainly am. I am very disappointed and deflated.

Let me know what you think on the sacking of Chris and the potential replacements. Pardew? Please, no.....

The following are a few entries from Twitter:

theseats: Should we take bets on which hack/gutter press blames the fans and 'outrageous expectations'?

TOTTvital: is it possible to unite as a fan base and boycott (PROPERLY BOYCOTT) Ashley until he's gone?

Promotion-winning Newcaslte manager Chris Hughton has been sacked. ©Getty Images

Chris_Faulkner: Turning up at St. James to sing anti-Ashley is not the best means of protest. Don't turn up on Saturday. Don't give him the money. #nufc

richard_conway: Is Ashley a Mackem rogue agent sent to secretly destroy Newcastle from within? Is there anything in #wikileaks on him? Only plausible theory

realpaulbrown: Anyone else feel like packing football in on days like these? #nufc

TOTTvital: Chris Hughton is a proper decent football man and deserves a lot better than to be #### on by our fat owner.

petersnowdon: Well here we go again. #NUFC. What is the fat cockney thinking? Who wants to take it now?

carolinecheese: So the way is clear for Maradona at SJP.

sarahe1987: @nufcfans I thought that tweet was a joke at first! What an absolute disgrace! Shocking. Ashley .... Nothing polite to say of him!

adamrdean: @nufcfans What is Ashley playing at? The fans and players loved him. This could ruin all our hard work so far this season. #NUFC

Follow me on Twitter @MarcSDuffy

Comments

Posted by Ginkoh on 12/06/2010

Mike Ashley deserved to be sacked instead of Hughton That's fact !

Posted by Doug on 12/06/2010

Poor old HOOTS!
He did his best and just came up short i'm afraid.
Martin O'Neil would be a disaster at Newcastle as they demand attacking football, even if they remain mid to bottom of the EPL.
Only one man Steve Clarke! The geordies love him and he will play the right way and take no Sh**!

Posted by Tom on 12/06/2010

If Ashley actually has Martin O'Niel lined up to become manager I might forgive him for now.... If we end up with a trash manager like Kinear again I'll be baffled and bemused as to how they sacked Hughton who's done a good job most of the time and not replaced him with better or more experienced manager.

[Quite a few O'Neill backers from what I see - but not my choice. sunderland fan and big boot merchant]

Posted by Glenn Stephenson on 12/06/2010

Disgusting decision by the owner.

Hughton has achieved the almost impossible and is repayed by a slap in the face.

I just hope that through all of this he is able to get another high class job (which he can) and know that the geordie following will always be truely greatful for the job he did at our sacred football club.

Posted by ryan on 12/06/2010

it is an absolute disgrace if they wanted someone with experiance why hire him at the start.Its not like where in a bad position either he has brought stability to the club. the sooner ashley sells up the better

Posted by dave t on 12/06/2010

i know it wasnt them that sacked him, but its gonna be really hard to get behind the team next week without chris hughton. The club decended in recent years and hoots has revived us. the mans a genius.

Posted by chuck on 12/06/2010

This sacking culminates a series of screwups by the owner of NUFC.
Sacking the one person responsible for the resurgence of a club in chaos, acing the second tier to instant promotion, strengthening the side with quality signings, with next to no funding.
At the same time doing it on a salary, which is peanuts compared to the average EPL manager`s salary.
At present the club are in a fairly comfortable mid table spot of a very competitive EPL, with clubs like Man U. and Chelsea losing to bottom sides, so why the sacking ?
Hopefully this is not "deja vu" all over again, just when we thought there was some stability, we seem to be returning to the same chaotic ways, firing managers and creating discord amongst the side.
Hopefully none of the mentioned candidates get the job, rather a Steve Clark or a proven coach who can continue the job of rebuilding and not any retread with a mediocre record or another Italian Import.

Posted by brian scobie on 12/06/2010

Ashley strikes again, he really is clueless he would get more selling us in the PL thta if we go down again. How he managed to make money in business is a mystery as he is is a complete cluster in football

Posted by Michael Parker on 12/06/2010

Ashley is a complete and utter a#######.

He's got out the blue print for relegation, again!

Posted by Tate Mariga on 12/06/2010

Deplorable. The man got the club into the premier league and half way through the season sits on 11th.
I seriously doubt its an issue about his experience. Walk away with your head high Mr Houghton.

Posted by Julia Woodman on 12/06/2010

I am gutted - this season has been far better than even the most optimistic Newcastle fan expected. Yes there have been lows but he has taken a team of players who are frankly not world beaters and modelled them into a team with heart and passion. We knew it was going to be a season with twists and turns but most expectations were low and happy to consolidate and stay up - with some truely joyous results thrown into the pot. I wish Chris Houghton all the luck in the world - he is hardworking and honest and has integrity unlike most people in the football world.

Posted by Ben Cousineau on 12/06/2010

Despicable. A complete slap in the face to a man who has done so much for the club. He deserves better than this and I hope Hughton gets a new job quickly, which I'm sure he will. Mike Ashley, having finally appearing to have at least garnered some respect from a few supporters, has completely p##### it away and would do well to avoid SJP completely for a very long time. What an absolute joke of not only an owner, but a man.

Posted by ray leech on 12/06/2010

WAS CH SACKED BECAUSE HE WAS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN THE BOARD & ASHLEY PUT TOGETHER?

Posted by blurgtheamoeba on 12/06/2010

Ashley is a mackem

Posted by Ray on 12/06/2010

Racist sacking

Posted by Reeve, Arizona on 12/06/2010

Is Ashley/board just bound and determined to create the next Leeds or something? Everyone said the first time of going down the Toon were the next Leeds. Now, who knows, that may happen. See Sol's comments? DON'T SHOW TO THE GAME, the players will live without you. Of course that's easy for me to say from Arizona.

Posted by gee on 12/06/2010

Mike Ashley should get the title "The Real SPecial one" by sacking Chris. Chris is too good of a person and coach to work for a baboon like Mike Ashley. Ashley Bought NUFC to make sure NUFC loose. He Probably bet against NUFC every week.

So Ashley thinks NUFC needs someone with more managerial experience? Go hire Kim Il Jung, the North Korean dictator manages the whole country for decades, and it seems he will be out of the Job soon. Im sure he fits your profile. You both shared a common interest in destroying progress and disrupting improvements.

Posted by Lars Knutsen on 12/06/2010

I am a Sunderland fan and write the Black Cats' blog on Soccernet.

I just posted a new blog and wrote that this sacking is a complete disgrace. The whole episode undermines NUFC to the extent that it will be very hard to get a decent manager to come to the club, just becuase of the way Mike Ashley runs the place. Not a good day for NE football.

Posted by Ian on 12/06/2010

You must be kidding.
Osama bin Ashley has got to go.
Bad enough that Chris has gone but I got to hear it on ESPN from Steve Macca.
Regards and tears from Canada.

Posted by sean on 12/06/2010

terrible decision by newcastle. hughton has done a great job in bringin newcastle back to the prem with little or no players brought in. he also has done great in how newcastle have played this season without a no2 aswell. shame on newcastle.

Posted by Daniel on 12/06/2010

What are the board at Newcastle doing? I think Chris has done a fantastic job. He brought Newcastle back up at the first time at asking, and convincingly so when people thought they would get stuck in the championship for a while, and now Newcastle currently sit in 11th on the table in the premiership. I for one thought Newcastle would be going down again this year to the championship.

I just don't get it. This will hit the players really hard, and think this will send Newcastle back a bit. Also it comes at a very busy and important time in the league with games to come thick and fast.

I just think the board have made a rash and stupid decision.

Thank you for all you have done Chris!

Posted by Mike on 12/06/2010

Racist and stupid. Not a Newcastle fan but this firing makes no sense. Rumor has it that a Mr. Martin Jol quit a few hours ago and maybe in line to take over. Newcastle were doing pretty decent. They need stability and just when things were settling, after last season into this one, this crazy guy comes and stirs up the pot again. Is he still trying to sell the club?
Mike U.S.

Posted by Matt on 12/06/2010

Days like this make me sad to be a nufc fan, why why did I choose this lol

Posted by Don on 12/06/2010

My only thought is that Ashley had money on Hughton being the first manager to be sacked this year. Totally ludicrous move since it's Hughton did the unthinkable and managed to calm what was utter chaos 2 yrs ago. I guess Ashley was missing those days of protests meeting him at the stadium every day. Get prepared for those days again.

Posted by Kevin Siow on 12/06/2010

Cruel - I am gutted!

I think there must be a conspiracy somewhere.

Think of it this way - Ashley is a businessman - he only cares about money. The cost of maintaining a premiership team is way too expensive for him (Debt + operating expenses). He needs to engineer a few things - first, to bring costs down and second to sell the club in due time. To achieve the first, he must engineer major movements - sack Chris Hughton, generate some unrest, the team gets relegated, players are sold (For profits, such as Andy Carroll), and they are back in the Championship.

In the Championship they will try to maintain their position there - the cost is more sustainable, players are less expensive, and there is no premium potential buyers need to pay should they want to buy the club. The value of the club will drop to less than $100 mil pounds.

In 3 years he will recoup his losses (through sales of players), sell the club (in the Championship), and execute his Exit Plan.

Posted by Chris on 12/06/2010

Wow. Incredible.

I may not root for Newcastle, but their loyal fanbase deserves better. Better than this sort of **** ownership, anyway. Hughton had Newcastle playing their hearts out, and managed to get some credible results, not to mention breezing through the Championship a year ago. This is a farce of the highest kind.

Posted by Emilio on 12/06/2010

Wow, the Geordies' comments here have somewhat restored my faith in human nature. The firing of Chris Hughton, after what amounts to a twinkling, is truly incomprehensible, considering what he has achieved in a very short time at the club. Not wishing for anything bad to befall NUFC, but Karma is real hell, and someone might inherit the whirlwind over this.

Posted by bryan on 12/07/2010

mike's in a race with roman abramovich to find out who's the biatch of the season.

Posted by Rishi Dayal on 12/07/2010

@Glenn Stephenson,

Hughton was certainly a great manager for Newcastle, but I wouldn't say he achieved the "near impossible.." Getting Newcastle promoted isn't such a brilliant accomplishment, as they were too good to have been relegated in the first place. Having said that, Mike Ashley has to be one of the dumbest owners I have ever seen (apart from Malcolm Glazer, of course), and this was a terrible decision.

From a Man U fan

Posted by norm ontario on 12/07/2010

Regardless of what some may say about Chris as a tactician,he deserved the chance to be manager.Chris,as a Newcastle fan I would just like to say you are just too good to work for this club with Ashley at the helm.I wonder what Bobby Robson would have said about this action.
All the very best for the future Chris you will always be appreciated by us Toon fans,thanks for everything.

Posted by Joe Basnett on 12/07/2010

It's not easy being a NUFC fan when decisions like this are made. Hughton appears to be a rarity in Football - someone with class and integrity. He can absolutely walk away with head held high and I wish him success with what comes next for him. Ashley, by contrast, is clearly deluded. It's unfair of him to drag NUFC, its supporters, and decent men like Hughton through the mire. The sooner Ashley and his board are gone, the better; it's as clear as black and white.

Posted by Kenny on 12/07/2010

Totally gutted... I thought he was doing a decent job... All these just make me feels that it's time to stop caring about football when you have all these idiots who run the clubs without caring about the fans....

Posted by Mikew on 12/07/2010

Six managers in 3 years? What a loser. Might know how to sell football shirts, has no idea how to run a club...

Posted by Toon Army Malaysia on 12/07/2010

Simply a devastating news. The one that should be sack is MA and not CH. After all the stability that CH brought to the club after all these years, this is how MA repays him.

I think most, if not all, NUFC supporters are totally against this decision. Let us see whether any so called "experienced" manager can be brought in now.

I thought our main aim this season is to avoid relegation but it seems that MA is focusing on an European spot... what a joke...

Let us hope we will not get relegated again and a message to Mike Ashley... please, please sell the club as soon as possible... we sure can't stand this kind of treatment from you...

and to CH, good luck to you, you've truly been a blessing to us... count yourself fortunate for not having to have any ties to MA anymore... not like us NUFC fans all over the world who have to live with his idiocy....

Posted by Patrick on 12/07/2010

I can only see martin oneil is a equal manager than him, if not better. Should mike Ashley already stay in contact with oneil, that will make sense. 'cause hughton is such a good manager, which will keep his team constantly in top flight for years to come. I m hoping that the chairman is making a right choice.

Posted by Maravan on 12/07/2010

i really disappointed with the way ashley run the club.

Posted by samuel on 12/07/2010

why the hell would he be sacked!...it makes no sense...Newcastle is not,atleast at this time, supposed to do better than it is doing now...in fact the club showed qualities and it even have player called for national team...
the sucking is ###### up

Posted by timothy on 12/07/2010

an absolute disgrace, this guy was doin a great job with limited resources.DISGRACE

Posted by Alan Goh on 12/07/2010

Ironically, a Sunderland Boss knows more bout passion for Newcastle than Mike "The Fat Ass(hley)"

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has slammed Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's decision to sack Chris Hughton

Seriously, Mike Ashley is an ####### who knows nothing bout Football. Experience? Hey Sir Alex got his experience from 20+ years of good faith by his board at Old Trafford.

Time for Newcastle Fans and Players to stand up and be counted! Sack Mike the Fat Ass(hley)

Posted by AHM on 12/07/2010

What NUFC board did was absolutely wrong.

Posted by Mark on 12/07/2010

Although Im really sad that Hughton is gone, I believe he is better off else where. I'm sure he has showed enough potential to get a top job. Hopefully he'll be back with us again someday.

Ashley is a complete fool for pulling a move like this. He is incredible. Just people are getting being the club again, he does something absolutely unthinkable. So typical.

I don't care who comes in, things cannot be better until Ashley is ousted. He's the biggest joke and the worst nightmare in one fat package.

Thank you Chris Hughton. You will always be in our hearts.

Posted by footy on 12/07/2010

If you dig deep enough you might probably find out that Ashley is a Sunderland fan....

Posted by Mladen, Dubai on 12/07/2010

Absolutely disgraceful, came off a plane yesterday to get an SMS that Hoots was sacked, ruined my whole day. The guy has done an incredible job, the whole changing room were behind him, he masterminded some great performances and got the team playing as one, breathing for this club. Wouldn't be surprised if O'Neill turns us down waiting for the Liverpool spot (which will be opening soon I reckon) and we end up getting some other mediocre greatly overpaid type like Curbishley. I can see a quick drop down the table coming in the next few weeks, especially with such a tight league and only a few points between the relegation zone and the European spots...

Good luck Chris, hopefully you will find a better job with a much more competent board supporting you.

Posted by thiongming on 12/07/2010

I feel that Chris is a decent but too decent guy for this club. He did not really look into issues that really needed attention. The attack was poor once again with Shola. He shouldn't be the captain and in my opinion should be benched. Ranger would have been a better choice to start of with. Enrique as captain would have been a better choice. He is playing well and has been around all the time. To substitute Shola midway through only goes to show that he is not decisive enough. Who would substitute the captain midway through the game unless he is injured? He knows the problem but he doesn't do the right thing. He is more wary of his reputation then whats best for the club. The tactics that he has employed in my perspective have been too predictable. He has a eye for good players but his choices of selection is too narrowed. We need someone who knows how to pick the squad. We have a good squad so just pick the right players and we will end in 7th position.

Posted by maximillan on 12/07/2010

Once again, a complete demonstration how people like Ashley who knows nothing about football is destroying the game.

Houghton has done a marvellous job under the circunstances and Newcastle will be poorer without him.

No matter who they bring in as the next manager, the malaise will still be there until we get decent owners to come in.

Newcastle fans owe Houghton a great debt - just look around at the sides who have gone down in recent seasons, Leeds United, Charlton, Norwich City and you know what that man has accomplished.

Such a farce and so sad it's happening to a great club once again.

Posted by shameek Beeharry on 12/07/2010

Sack dat ####### from Newcastle... dats wat we need to do to make da club move in the right direction.... How can he dare to sack such a good coach... Dis guy needs some IQ test or maybe should be admitted to a mental hospital.... After wateva Haughton did is this the gift he deserves Mr MIke ####### Ashley?? Am one of the few Newcastle supporter in Mauritius and before i used to say am proud to be a Newcastle fan... Nw da pride is gone... Wish we can have a new take over nw... Guys from Middle East plz invest and buy our club and kick dis ####### Mike Ashley out:(

Posted by golfplayer11 on 12/07/2010

From a Liverpool Fan: Ashley must be nuts...Ask any team in the Premier League that they settle for four points for the Away fixture at Emirates Stadium and a Home draw with Chelsea, I think even Sir Alex would have gladly taken it...Ask the same question to Newcastle, and they fire the manager....Enough said...

Posted by ST on 12/07/2010

For the love of god... Just today, I was walking down the street, thinking about how much things have improved in the last two seasons. Finally beginning to feeling a sense of pride in the club again, and finally beginning to get the sense that, despite the thin squad we have, that we would be able to at least place top-ten this season... Now this? Chris was the magic that took these boys, and got them to gel as a team, play with confidence, and with very little resource. I find it hard to believe that anyone can step in now and piece together what Ashley has done.

How does that thick #### not see just how unwanted he is? I wish the owner of the Redsox hadn't bought Liverpool... Yank or not, he knows how to properly run a sports club.

Posted by Lez on 12/07/2010

Should never have been appointed in the first place,two very poor stints as stand in manager put us down to start with. Good coach no manager aka Brian kidd. Promotion from a very poor championship with our squad was a must although we didn't exactly blitz it. Poor signings in Sol, Perch @ Routledge. But how Ashley can attract an experienced manager with him in control remains to be seen. I would have let Chris see out the season. Good look to Chris he his a good football man and will be back in the game in some capacity. I just hope we can have some success to attract a buyer that will meet Ashleys price, so we can get rid of him.

[It is a valid opinion, though possibly unfair to comment on those signings as they cost a total of £2m - £8m less than Luque for example. His one significant money signing, Tiote, has been a massive success]

Posted by Ian on 12/07/2010

Shame on Mike Ashley and NUFC board for losing direction!!!...if indeed the decision was based on experience then Mike should make some offers to Sir Alex, Wenger and Carlo.

His decision is total disrespect to the fans, players, NUFC setup and all hardworking and high integrity football managers!!!

Beating Aston Villa, Arsenal(A), Sunderland and frustrating Chelsea - what more does Ashley want from a team coming from championship?...end of times are coming for you Ashley!!! I bet NUFC will fight relagation because of this silly Mike/Board decision.

I will miss you Chris and all the best in your bright career.

Posted by fijiangeordie on 12/07/2010

waking up this morning fiji time i was shocked when i opened up and saw the headlines. how does this guy ashley run a business? chris hughton is the best thing that has happened at st james in the last couple of years. we had stability and a group of good young players with potential. he even took the heat of that useless owner. on that, it's about time the powers that be stopped idiots like him owning a football club. its just a plaything to them. good luck to chris. i have no doubt he will be snapped up and i hope its a good club with potential which he can progress. toon army fans dont buy anything off ashley any more. be interesting to see how the players react in the next few games. i suspect not very well. i almost wish i was a mackem, but not quite!! all the best chris. come and have a holiday in fiji!!

Posted by Joseph G on 12/07/2010

I am lost for words. Totally.

Posted by stewart.mcgill on 12/07/2010

While we're at it lets sack the Aussie cricket coach

[Now I have to disagree with this one! I reckon hes doing a fantastic job :o) ]

Posted by FatGeordie on 12/07/2010

what the hell is Ashley thinking? Chris has been doing a splendid job of caretaking the club to promotion to th premiere league. I just hope this crazy-looney act doesn't derail the team to a relegation battle at the end of the season....
And please, no Avam Grant for the manager's position?

Posted by Yaz on 12/07/2010

Ashley should go,he has no idea whats best for NUFC n only knows to his own best interest.No Alan Pardew ,Martin O'Neill,Paul Lambert...WHAT??? Alan Curblishey...WHAT!WHAT!WHAT!??? sorry dude but they are not the man for the job.Freddy Sheppard,pls buy back Newcastle.And bring back Hughton if possible.

Posted by Chris D. on 12/07/2010

Wow. Just, Wow.

What more does the guy have to do for you? Sunderland, Arsenal, Aston Villa. Unites the team under the banner of hard work. The club comes into a promotion season and thrives through the first games. >>Current

I'm in the U.S., but I'm going to make a PLEA TO THOSE TO YOU IN NEWCASTLE. PLEASE, >>>PLEASE!!!

It will be hard to demand that NUFC should continue to perform as if Hughton was still at the helm. So, my biggest hope is no longer Newcastle ending in the top third of the table. All I want for Newcastle now is the complete removal of Mike Ashley by the end of the year. I hope he sells the team at a multi-million pound loss.

BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT!

Posted by Hafiz Halil,Malaysia's toon army on 12/08/2010

i have to read the article twice in disbelieve that the crazy fatty "ass"ley have done it again...another sacking just when its look like were back in the game...he is basically the rash in NUFC...n needed to be cured immediately!!!"ass"ley...please...if u really have to sack some1 to make u sleep better at night then please for the love of god....SACK YOURSELF!!!

Posted by Chee Kong on 12/09/2010

I am a proud fan from Singapore for about 20 years. The club went through ups and, mostly, downs. Fans like me have been described as "long suffering". But the arrival of Chris Hughton is a breath of fresh air. With a tight budget and low salary, he has done plenty of great things. He has brought us some good players (e.g. Tiote), brought out the best in our players (e.g. Carroll) and brought us a handful of surprisingly good results. He has earned my respect. The sacking does not make any sense. I am extremely shocked and dismayed at the action of Mike Ashley. For the sake of NUFC, this disillusioned owner must go.

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