Newcastle not looking to replace Kinnear

Newcastle will not appoint another manager as Joe Kinnear recovers from heart surgery. Managing director Derek Llambias has dismissed suggestions that the Magpies will look to draft in a replacement and will instead leave the club’s fate in the hands of coaches Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood.

The two men have been in charge since 62-year-old Kinnear was admitted to hospital on the morning of the Premier League trip to West Brom on February 7th.

Victory there and a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Everton on Sunday despite Kevin Nolan’s 43rd-minute dismissal have confirmed the faith the regime at St James’ Park have invested in them, and they will continue to lead the fight for top-flight survival.

Llambias said: “Chris has done a good job. He is full of confidence. Colin is in there helping us and Joe is still in the background. We are happy with that situation, and that will take us through until the end of the season.

“Chris is a thorough football man and a highly-respected coach. The players are full of respect for him and Colin Calderwood.”

Kinnear was discharged from hospital on Saturday, a little more than a week after undergoing triple heart bypass surgery, and has been told he will need around eight weeks’ rest before he can consider returning to work.

However, Llambias has revealed he played his part in Sunday’s draw and will continue to have an influence.

He said: “Joe was on the phone for about one and a half hours to Chris on Saturday. Chris and Colin will talk to him on a regular basis. Unless they cut the phone lines around his house, there’s no way he won’t communicate.

“He phoned me at 11pm on Saturday night because he needed some information. The next morning he was back on the phone to Chris for two hours. He then rang me again.

“I have had to tell him he is meant to be resting. It’s the way Joe is. He has to learn that for two or three weeks he has to calm down and take it easy.”

Newcastle slipped to 15th place in the league table as a result of Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Hull last night, which lifted them above the Magpies on goal difference.

Both sides have 28 points and are five clear of the drop zone with 12 games to play.