Keith Downie has suggested that ‘there is hope’ in Newcastle United appointing Unai Emery as their new manager, as he told Sky Sports News (03/11/21 at 9:10 am).
The Sky reporter shared that ‘word on the ground’ at St James’ Park suggests that Newcastle still view Emery as their number one target and they still feel he’s the man to take them forward, despite reports coming out of Spain overnight.
Spanish reporter Guillem Balagué has claimed that Emery, who was in charge of Villarreal’s 2-0 Champions League win against Young Boys on Tuesday night, will not be Newcastle’s next manager, as he posted on Twitter.
If that’s the case, then it throws a spanner in the works of those now running Newcastle’s ship because their current situation in the Premier League table isn’t exactly of good reading.
Nonetheless, this is what Downie had to say about the Newcastle manager situation on Wednesday morning, live from St James’ Park.
“As far as word on the ground here in Newcastle, they still feel that Unai Emery is still the man they want to take this club forward and to be the first appointment of the new regime here at St James’ Park,” said Downie.
“They feel that he has all the credentials to take them forward – today will be critical in this story if reports in Spain from our former colleague Guillem Balagué are proved to be correct. Then it would appear that Emery doesn’t fancy taking on the job here.
“But Newcastle were of the belief that he did and they were of the belief that once yesterday’s game against Young Boys was out of the way, it was a case of putting an offer to him, getting that agreed, then hopefully getting Emery to fly over here on his 50th birthday, which is today.
“The information I am getting on the ground here at Newcastle is that Emery is still the number one target and there is still hope of concluding that deal. Things change very quickly.”
Whether it’s Emery or Guy Fawkes, Newcastle need a new manager in place, just to stop their current rot and put some wins on the board.
There were fireworks in the North East last month when the Saudi-led ownership replaced Mike Ashley.
Those same supporters will want to be celebrating in the same manner in May, else they will end up being the richest club in the Championship.
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