nbthree3

Interviewed via Zoom - Eddie Howe's also been contacted. Gerrard and Martinez valued because of their English game experience (Gerrard as a player?)

Updated article from earlier Newcastle held talks with Paulo Fonseca today as he emerges as a serious contender for the head coach vacancy following Steve Bruce's departure. The discussions did not end with a definitive answer over whether Newcastle will look to proceed with appointing Fonseca, but were said to be positive. The call is understood to have centred around Fonseca's footballing philosophy, with little focus on any potential contract.

(identical records at Sunderland which this tweet references and us, minus one win. He did better at Sunderland than Newcastle by one win)

I think it was coming this time too

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1179550155/marc-overmars-in-beeld-bij-newcastle-united

"Marc Overmars is the top candidate for director of football at Newcastle United. (Telegraaf)"

Rafa's now 2 managers ago!

With the caveat that it's not totally settled within the consortium, to repost

Looks like it's Fonseca we're going for

Bruce arrived with a reputation as an excellent man-manager and, for a while, warranted it. Some players, exhausted by Benitez’s exacting methods, thought he “brought fun to training”. That feeling did not endure. “With Rafa, because he’s so intense, you only realise what you’ve got when it’s gone,” one player said in private. “You can’t always tell everyone what they want to hear,” says an agent. “Promises get made that can’t be kept.” Over time, Bruce’s openness, at least with some, faded. While Shelvey remained loyal, others felt disconnected as dialogue dried up. A few weeks ago, one player told The Athletic something pretty remarkable. “This club makes it difficult to be professional,” he said. “Newcastle used to be well-organised and well-drilled,” says a rival coach. “But it isn’t the same now. The detail isn’t there.” With Benitez, the specifics were everything and that was how he maximised resources. Bruce’s relaxed approach was initially welcomed and, for a time, just about worked. Perversely, a player at a Champions League side privately remarked that he found Newcastle the “hardest team to play against” last season. It was a compliment and a criticism, referencing Newcastle’s lack of apparent structure. He was unsure Newcastle players were carrying out a clear game plan, so he found it difficult to know how to combat them. Jones’ one-on-one coaching and keenness to communicate directly with individuals brought a change of dynamic. One player went as far as to claim, half-jokingly, that Jones, “does fucking everything”, but Bruce was still in charge. He picked the team. Deploying players in unfamiliar roles became a regular occurrence during Bruce’s final few months. “Some started turning around and saying, ‘Hang on, that’s not my position’,” says a source. Few lines from The Athletic piece

" Steve Bruce has been sacked by Newcastle United and has revealed that he is now likely to retire due to the strain that has been placed on him during his two-year spell on Tyneside. Bruce's departure - which was confirmed this morning - has been widely expected ever since the Saudi Arabian-led takeover at St James' Park, although he was in charge for last Sunday's match against Tottenham, his 1,000th as a manager." 1000 and out then!

A Saudi Arabian airline is one of the frontrunners to become Newcastle's new sponsor after a favoured option of having the Crown Prince's "Vision 2030" project emblazoned on shirts was scuppered. Legally-binding assurances to the Premier League around no state involvement at the club and now a vote from rivals to clampdown on owner sponsors has made up the new owners' minds. Prior to the initial takeover approach collapsing a year ago, discussions had taken place around giving significant prominence to Vision 2030, the Mohammed bin Salman-led plan to diversify Saudi's economy away from oil. However, the prospect of advertising such an explicit connection to Saudi's controversial leadership had been fading even prior to a Premier League vote on Monday to temporarily ban owner-funded deals. Now it is two other long-term options - the Saudia airline or potentially a Saudi-based new tour operator - that are being earmarked by insiders as the most likely next shirt and stadium brands. There is confidence within Newcastle that bringing in a Saudi-based corporate sponsor will not be a long-term problem despite hostility from club rivals at a meeting this week. (from article linked above)