O'Leary in Newcastle link

SOCCER NEWS ROUND-UP:DAVID O'LEARY may be offered an opportunity to rehabilitate his managerial career at Newcastle United. Derek Llambias, the club's managing director, is a long-standing friend of the Irishman and he and Newcastle's board are giving serious thought to offering O'Leary a short-term contract.

Although Alan Curbishley is also on Newcastle's radar, the former West Ham manager is believed to be less interested in running the team during the interregnum while Mike Ashley endeavours to sell the club.

Moreover, Curbishley resigned after becoming disillusioned with the very sort of continental management structure which also prompted Kevin Keegan to quit as manager at St James' Park.

O'Leary, though, is extremely keen to get back into work after being out of football since leaving Aston Villa in 2006.

The one-time Leeds United manager certainly has his critics, but the 50-year-old did lead Leeds to the semi-finals of the Champions League and his teams have generally played the sort of high-tempo game which would appeal to Newcastle fans.

Chris Hughton is currently in caretaker charge of Newcastle, but, although his coaching ability is highly valued, the board is concerned about his capacity to do the job for an extended period which could run to several months. Hughton's problems are exacerbated by the fact that he lacks coaching support.

Indeed, Newcastle's back room staff is almost as thin as the first-team squad. Steve Round has not been replaced after he left to become David Moyes' assistant manager at Everton and Terry McDermott, Keegan's old number two, has recently been sacked.

Ashley, Llambias and their co-directors Dennis Wise and Tony Jiminez, are believed to be heading back to England today following their trip to the United Arab Emirates where they tried to find a buyer for Newcastle.

Meanwhile, former England international John Barnes (44) has been appointed Jamaica's new national coach.

Guardian Service