The ghost of Alan Shearer will always haunt the unfortunate Chris Hughton at Newcastle

By Brian McNally

Published 17:54 30/10/09

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Chris Hughton deserved to remain in charge of Newcastle United for his excellent efforts in the first 14 Championship games.

But I can't help but think that signing his 18-month contract as permanent manager may represent the pinnacle of his time at St James' Park.

When I wished the amiable Hughton the best of luck at Newcastle's training headquarters on Thursday he accepted that the logical follow on to his appointment was the sack.

But with a look of steely determination in his eye he insisted that all he was thinking of was marking his first campaign as a manager with promotion.

However, he knows that deep down the Toon Army didn't want him and he will be reminded of that every time his side play badly.

Only last Saturday the chants for Alan Shearer echoed around the ground when Newcastle trailed to Doncaster.

As some senior figures at the club have told me the ghost of the snubbed Shearer will haunt Newcastle until he is finally given his chance to manage the club on a permanent basis.

If Shearer had guided Newcastle to the top of the table and St James' Park was attracting near 44,000 crowds he would be hailed as a saviour.

Hughton knows that he must live in the shadow of that Geordie idolatry, but if he is given the backing of the Tyneside faithful and, just as importantly, maverick owner Mike Ashley then he could quite conceivably return Newcastle to the Premier League.

Now that Ashley has decided to take the club off the market he has the chance to provide Hughton with the funds for new players in January that could tip the balance towards the Premier League for a Newcastle side that is certainly as good as anything in the Championship.

My feeling is that Hughton's 18-month contract is a replica of the deal that Sunderland handed to Ricky Sbragia a year ago- a smokescreen to disguise the fact that he will leave in the summer.

But I do think that Hughton has the coaching ability win promotion if the Newcastle fans forget their understandable Shearer obsession and get behind both the manager and the team.

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