"Newcastle United Football Club have today parted company with manager Chris Hughton. Goalkeeping coach Paul Barron also leaves the club today.The board would like to place on record their thanks to Chris for his considerable efforts during the club's transition from Championship to Premier League football.
Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed manager in October 2009. The club wishes him well for the future.
Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward.
The task of appointing a new manager now begins. An announcement will be made shortly regarding transitional arrangements pending the appointment of a successor."
To be honest I feel as if I am currently suffering from shock, for it seems that no matter what has happened in the past, the board as well as Mike Ashley cannot fail to surprise myself and the rest of the Newcastle United fans. Of course I am not completely aware as to the real reasons for the club's decision, and the reason stated above regarding "an individual with more managerial experience" being needed just doesn't seem to ring true.
To be frank, what the board and Mike Ashley have today undertaken is a disgrace. To me there is no greater insult in football for managers than a patronising declaration of "thanks" as they are kindly asked to vacate their office, say their goodbyes and leave. Who can imagine how Hughton is currently feeling, having led a team from the gutters of relegation straight back to the Premier League within a single season, a feat only few managers complete. Yes, Hughton was inexperienced as a first team coach, yet his many years as an assistant at both Tottenham and Newcastle gave him vast amounts of knowledge, vital knowledge for a man making his way towards becoming a successful manager. This is what confuses me you see, for surely all managers have to start somewhere? There must be some form of a rights of passage, from coaching staff to assistant, assistant to manager and so on? Hughton had passed through this, he had made it to the last hurdle and was making progress in a positive and somewhat unexpectedly successful manner.
For me it all starts on the 25th of July 2009, a day on which NUFC were demolished 6-1 by Leyton Orient in a pre-season game. Following that humiliation, the interim Hughton, gathered all the players together, asking those that were unhappy and wanted to leave to make it clear, allowing the players that were intent on restoring Newcastle's place in the Premier League to take up their job without the trouble of surrounding unhappy campers. From then on Newcastle's Championship season can be described as a complete success. Hughton brought the players together, moulding a team out of what had been an overpaid selection of individuals, has-beens such as Mark Viduka, Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Damien Duff. The 2008-09 season showed that the soul of Newcastle United had been destroyed. Hughton changed that, both creating a team, yet also bringing life back to a football club.
Last season, although within the 2nd tier of English football, was one of the most enjoyable, entertaining and happy of my life as a football fan. Obviously the bonus of winning nearly every game and having the best home record in all the English leagues helped, yet it was the fact that my team were back playing good football and showing passion that really mattered. Hughton had this passion. He would not have stayed as "interim-manager" back in October 2009 if he didn't have passion. He managed for 14 games, collecting 27 points and putting Newcastle top of the Championship before being named official manager of the club. That was commitment, putting up with the shit of Mike Ashley who seemed determined on refusing Hughton the job on a permanent basis and still achieving success, never sure as to where his future lay.Officially Ashley provided Hughton with a years contract. As a fan, having watched last seasons success and the optimistic start to our current season, I have recently found myself wondering as to when a renewal would be put in place. In fact this very subject caused large amounts of media attention just a few weeks ago. With emphatic wins against Sunderland and Aston Villa, away success against Arsenal and a draw against the Champions Chelsea, surely Hughton was to be given an addition to his contract? But no, despite strange calls of support from the NUFC board, Hughton has today been sacked. The club's aim for this season was to avoid relegation. Although a biased judge, I'm pretty sure that Hughton was on track to achieve this goal (I hope you all agree).
Martin O'Neill is supposedly the front runner for the job with odds of 3/1 to take it. I cannot deny that some relief is stirred by this news, yet this piece is not about who comes next, it is about the injustice and maltreatment of an invaluable servant to the club. Hughton was one of the most down to earth, modest and passionate managers I have seen on the Newcastle touchline for many years. He installed some form of confidence in me as a fan, having a belief that he was the man to take us forward, battling against the odds to bring back pride in the club. He is gone now, and his achievements (including the best ever start by a NUFCHughton's season. He changed Newcastle United, making it more than just his, but the fans', giving them a team to be proud of again.Yet today all counts for nothing as once again the money men in football destroy respect and my fundamental understanding of the backbone to the beautiful game.
Although he will probably never see this, I would like to wish my best to, and thank Chris Hughton for restoring my pride in the Newcastle United players and coaching staff. The significance of the job he completed will never be forgotten by this fan. Thanks for the good times.
Written by Jesse
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