Mick Wadsworth's doing the post-match interviews because Bobby's gone straight in to see the chairman - something's afoot, he must at least be on the brink of taking the England job part-time, let's hope it's not full-time.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Answers

I think he's asking the Chairman if we can play away from St. James' the rest of the season.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

I would like to think they're reviewing the situation with Laurent Charvet's transfer.
Our latest injury crisis - FB's this time - is more important then the FA's incompetent meanderings.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

pre empting an FA srike me thinks Catch 22 situation as YBR has touted himself for the post Question is are the board prepared to allow a job share and more to the point are we Mixed feelings on this one. Ideally YBR would have distanced himself.Alas he hasnt and clearly fancies a crack Seriously worried Good job I'm off to the Bahamas at easter!

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

It's time for Bobby to put an end to this nonsense and rule himself out of that job - under ANY circumstances. The whole situation has already compromised the club's position, and he has'nt even taken the job yet. Not that today's defeat was an excuse, but the club has been destabalized by this nonsense.

I could'nt give a fig about the national side at the best of times, but at the moment I hate them with a passion.

They can all go and feck right off. I'm backing Freddie Shepherd on this one. He's not taking the job and that is the end of the matter.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

I realy can't see how this is a full time job?

Robson sees loads of players every week, as oponemnts to NUFC and on scouting missions. When there is a reak for Internationals, why can't he and Peter Taylor go and inspire the players that they have selected? Why have a fulltime manager for a job that lasts 6 weeks every season ?

I reckon people like Venables , Hodgson and the others wanting this job know it's a cushy number. We don't need to pay millions for a team bunch of football gurus to come up with who we should have in the national team and make a fulltime job (or six) out of the England managership. It'san EASY job, and Robson CAN DO IT IN HIS FEW DAYS OFF every few months.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

The club has just made a statement saying that they have been approached by the FA asking that YBR be allowed to take control of England part-time for the next SEVEN matches. The Board has rejected this approach after consultations with the manager. Bobby was then seen being driven away from SJP in a rather smart car reg no 1 RWR.

This was all on Sky Sports.com channel a few minutes ago.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

This just shows what a bunch of insensitive, incompetent tw@ts the FA are!
Can they really think it's on to expect a 67 year-old man to carry that level of responsibility in two jobs for such an extended period?
These imbeciles are lower down the evolutionary scale than ameobas.
Asking Bobby to take car of the shop for the two friendlies against Italy and Spain would have been a half reasonable request, AND bought them six months to make a permanent appointment, but for SEVEN games! Give me a ferkin break.
They clearly must have Sven Goren-Eriksen lined up at the end his Lazio contract next summer.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Ok, everybody relax. The following is all over the net now: Pulled this from teamtalk -

Newcastle reject FA approach ^top

The Newcastle United board have unanimously rejected an approach from the FA to take Bobby Robson on a part-time basis. Newcastle were remaining very quiet after the 1-0 defeat by Everton with no-one connected internally with the club willing to confirm what the situation was regarding Robson potentially taking the England hot seat once again. However, there was obviously something afoot after Robson failed to attend the post-match press conference to instead engage in talks with Freddy Shepherd. An hour-and-a-half after the talks had finished a Newcastle spokesman finally confirmed what many had suspected. He said the Newcastle board had been approached by the FA asking if they could acquire the services of Bobby Robson on a temporary basis for the next seven matches. The spokesman also revealed the board's response, saying that they had unanimously rejected the approach, and that Bobby Robson had been informed and had accepted their decision.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

YBR just interviewed on MOTD. Obviously disappointed but understands the boards position. But here's the thing - the FA say the 7 games thing referred to by Fletch is bollocks. Another communications screw- up by our board?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Well, trying to compare the morals of the NUFC board (I go back along way!) and the FA is like asking me to decide between Sunderland and ManUre. However, from what I just saw in the MotD interview (delayed on the bis back to Blyth) I have to say I think the Fa are trying to extract the Michael - or is that giving them too much credit?

I could see - even accept - YBR taking charde for the short term. But expecting him, or hic employers, to consider seven games, which must take us to the end of the season, is totally out of the question. IMHO, yet another case of the FA being totally out of touch with reality. I thought Crozier had more intelligence than that. David Davies not, but Adam Crozier yes.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Whew, now Bobby can get back to concentrating on NUFC. With our home record, he's got a lot of work to do and will be needing those international weeks to do it. Or to rest his voice(and nerves) from the bollockings that seem to be a daily necessity. ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

I`m not sure it is over yet. The FA are back-pedalling and saying it`s not 7 games they want him for. Wor Bobby is obviously keen to do it, and I smell a compromise on the way. I still wouldn`t be suprised to hear that he is taking charge for a couple of matches and then taking it from there.

I`m more worried that this might panic our Board of Directors into misinterpreting the situation, and reading Bobby`s reaction as one of split loyalties. Does anyone understand, or even know what Bobby`s contract arrangements are? I`m really worried that our illustrious Board may be already running around like headless chickens, trying to get two jumps ahead of Bobby, and getting it entirely wrong.

Am I worrying too much? I don`t think so, we all know how arrogant and stubborn this Board of Directors can be. I just wonder if they really feel under pressure from the FA, and if they really think that Bobby wants another `crack` at England (allbeit as a temporary thing), they may get a bit too heavy handed with wor Bobby. (:o|

Yours sincerely,

Worried (of not so sunny Bournemouth)!

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Galaxy,

I feel you're right to be worried, and frankly I haven't really cooled down since my clearly irritated post last night. The FA are being entirely unrealistic and unreasonable in their expectations, and their actions will inevitably create internal tensions between BR and FS.

Bobby has a 12 month rolling contract at NUFC, but I'm not sure when the current 12month period closes. He is a man of honour and will be loathe to break any contractual relationship, however short. Nevertheless, I believe he will feel that in this situation the Board should be being more respectful of his own wishes and desires - after all he is not looking to leave the Club.

In many respects, now that Pandora's Box is well and truly ajar, I truly believe a compromise solution would be in everyone's best interests. An acceptable compromise IMO would be for Bobby to take control for the two friendlies against Italy and Spain. This would buy the FA several months, and with the support of someone like Peter Taylor, would not be too onerous for Bobby.

I sincerely hope FS does not simply dig his toes in to the detriment of his relationship with BR, which could be irreparably damaged by this unfortunate business and the FA's clumsy bungling.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Bobby Robson started off this speculation. Do you think he is 100% happy at Newcastle?

The FA Commitee contains Arsenals and Leeds United Chairman, are they putting their country first or do you think there is a secret agenda to undermine a re emerging NUFC, who they see as major contenders for a European place this season? There is surely nothing that these men would like more than for their rivals to beplunged into more managerial disaray.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

With regard to Bobby's contract - Rob Wotton was putting it about on Sky last night that he signed his 12 months rolling contract on 18 Feb so it would expire on 18 Feb 2001. This is a bload of b*llocks. Not even our Board would be daft enough to allow the manager's contract to expire in the middle of the season!

The very nature of a "rolling" contract means that it never expires unless one side or the other gives 12 months notice. Such a contract ALWAYS has 12 months to run so the only way Bobby could leave is to give 12 months notice today and leave next October - unless he broke his contract which, being a man of honour, he simply won't do. Similarly, if the Board wish to sack him (only a joke!) they either have to give him 12 months notice or pay him 12 months salary as severance pay.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Teletext report that the FA has called a press conference for 5pm in London today, where an official announcement is expected as to who will be England coach in the short-term after Bobby Robson was ruled out last night.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Apparently the press conference is to be held at Heathrow Airport. This would suggest that a key person attending is flying in from somewhere. How about Roy Hodgson - whose Swedish club side is about to go into its winter hibernation for 4 months?

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Could well be Jacko, or is that Hercules?

Hodgson must be a possibility. I've also heard that the FA were talking to Johan Cruyff before KK quit - however, it seems highly unlikely that and ego like Cruyff would agree to do it temporarily.
So, I guess it must be Hodgson, who could see a short-term appointment as an oportunity to impress and get the job full time. The FA may have dangled this as a carrot.
Should be interesting. Let's just pray "the candidate" isn't flying into Terminal 1 - if you know what I mean!!

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Thought at first it might be Eriksson but I've just put the telly on and I see Lazio are playing this afternoon.

Also, just heard a snippet to the effect that Steve McClaren might be involved in some capacity - you can fly from Manchester to Heathrow can't you! I also note from teletext that there are two flights from Stockholm arriving this afternoon. I suspect the main point to emerge from my messages, however, is that I've been reading far too many Morse novels!

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Ms. Poirot - surely it's not Taggart??
Is McClaren English? He has a very good reputation as a coach, but there again so did Brian Kidd! He's another slight possibility I suppose.
The FA seem hell bent on an elder statesman type backed up with a good young coach - so Hodgson & McClaren could be the temporary team. Hhmmm.

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

30 mins to go. What time does the Newcastle Shuttle land?

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

Listening to a webcast of the Villa game(unfortunately only being provided by the Mackems(*spit*)s*ite. They just said speculation in the Villa press box is that it will be Peter Taylor assisted by mcLaren.

For what that's worth. ;-)))

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

This has been confirmed by David Davies - see new thread!

-- Anonymous, October 22, 2000

The most disappointing thing about this debacle is the way press have rounded upon the board for not ketting YBR take the job. Well, as far as I'm concerned, they are bang on right. YBR doesn't appear to bear a grudge (see today's Times) and frankly the miserable display against Everton was ample evidence that he's got his work cut out at SJP. Good on Freddy, I say.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2000