Ex-NUFC boss reveals whether he’d return if Mike Ashley offered him the job

Sam Allardyce has all but ruled out any return to Newcastle United during an appearance on talkSPORT this morning, stating he would ‘never be offered the job again’.

After being asked if he’d accept the job should Ashley come calling, Big Sam admits that it’s the sort of job so many managers just ‘couldn’t turn down’, but feels any Rafa replacement would need to have a ‘good relationship’ with the NUFC owner to make it work under his restrictions.

Here’s what the former Newcastle United boss has had to say on talkSPORT earlier today:

“I would never be offered that job again so I think that’s a hypothetical question.

I don’t think so. In my time I was between Freddie Shepherd losing the club and Mike [Ashley] taking the club.

“As the years have gone by, Kevin Keegan’s gone back, Alan Shearer’s been back and both of them didn’t quite do as well as the fans expected. So I think there’s less of an expectation for the manager of Newcastle now than there was when I was there.

“So I think whoever gets the job he needs to have a good relationship with the CEO or Mike, if possible, and keep taking the club forward until he sells it.”

Here’s what he then had to say when asked about Rafa’s time at the club and any potential replacement:

“I think we all know the pitfalls of the Newcastle job but you don’t turn it down if it’s offered, if you have any ambition,”

“I left Bolton to go to the next level. There has been a lack of real success for many, many years.

“The fans have turned to be more patient – they realise what the club has become.

“It was all about winning a cup competition or Europe when I was there.”

“Rafa did a fantastic job keeping in the Premier League.

“The hard thing for Mike Ashley is getting someone in to manage the club, what can a new manager achieve to take the club forward? That will difficult.”

For once, this is quite a realistic and diplomatic response from Allardyce – a man who’s ego has often been larger than his big 6ft 3′ frame during his time in management.

That said, I don’t agree that it’s a job you ‘don’t turn down if you have any ambition’. If anything, you don’t accept this job under Mike Ashley if you have any form of ambition!

Sadly, it’s true that the manager likely to replace Rafa will be someone Ashley gets on with, with it likely to be another ‘yes man’ willing to accept limited control – unless we see a takeover happen and are able to aim higher.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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