Newcastle offering Chris Hughton the manager's job now could be Mike Ashley's most baffling decision yet

To my mind Newcastle's decision to offer Chis Hughton the manager's job on a permanent basis is as baffling as Middlesbrough's decision to sack Gareth Southgate.

Hughton has done an excellent job as caretaker boss while working on strictly limited resources.

But he has a contract as coach until June 2011 so I don't see the hurry to make him manager while the club is still up for sale.

Having just lost their case with former manager Kevin Keegan they now have to shell out close to £4million.

As their promotion push shows signs of faltering, the timing of their move seems crazy.

But there again I never did understand the workings of owner Mike Ashley's mind.



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