Newcastle United are searching for their next manager after sacking Steve Bruce and ESPN report Chris Wilder is in the mix, but club chiefs prefer Frank Lampard or Paulo Fonseca.
The Toon confirmed on Wednesday that Bruce had left his position at St James’ Park after two-years by mutual consent. He oversaw his 1,000th match as a head coach on Sunday as Newcastle lost to Tottenham Hotspur to remain 19th in the table without a win this season.
Newcastle’s new Saudi-led ownership of the Public Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers felt now is the right time to sack Bruce and look to appoint their own manager. They could even make a hire before facing Crystal Palace this weekend, despite naming Graeme Jones as caretaker manager.
Newcastle are considering replacing Bruce with Lampard, Fonseca or Wilder as they are all out of work. Lampard has remained unemployed since Chelsea fired the England icon this January. While Fonseca also left Roma and Wilder left Sheffield United last season.
Fonseca had his second interview with the new hierarchy at St James’ Park on Wednesday. The Portuguese had held talks with the Tyneside outfit last week, per the Daily Mail. He is rising to the top of the Toon’s shortlist with Lampard, as they can take charge immediately.
The PIF hierarchy would currently prefer to appoint either Lampard or Fonseca as Bruce’s replacement at Newcastle. But are considering Wilder, who Chronicle Live reported earlier this month would ‘love’ the chance to take over on Tyneside.
Should Newcastle hire Wilder as next manager after sacking Bruce?
Wilder enjoyed mixed success over his five-years in charge at Sheffield United that could appeal to Newcastle, amid their search for a manager after sacking Bruce on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old took over at Bramall Lane with the Blades in League One and led them to the Premier League. Wilder earned the admiration of some of the top-flight’s biggest names in their debut season, but struggled and fought relegation last term.
“Clearly a very good manager,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told The Star. “When you consider the level some of those players were at not so long ago – and then look at what they are doing now – you can’t have anything but respect for that.”
However, Staveley may see that Wilder never fulfils his dreams of being the next Newcastle manager after Bruce. The Telegraph report the Magpies director is backing Fonseca for the job against opposition from other non-executive figures at United.
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