Newcastle's search for a new manager took another twist tonight as Didier Deschamps became the new bookies' favourite to take over at St James' Park.
The catalyst for the news was a story in France Football, who reported that Deschamps was contacted immediately after Newcastle's 6-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. According to the magazine, Deschamps will meet with Newcastle directors to finalise an agreement within a matter of hours. As a result the odds on the Frenchman dropped from 80-1 to as low as 2-1 with some bookmakers.
Former Chelsea captain Deschamps cut his teeth as a manager at Monaco - taking them to a Champions League final in 2004 - and also had a spell in charge at Juventus.
It was another Frenchman who looked to be in pole position earlier in the day as the Tyneside rumour mill churned with the news that former Liverpool, Lyon and France manager Gérard Houllier had had informal discussions about taking over at St James' Park, with suggestions that he could form a partnership with Alan Shearer. But Houllier now looks to be ruled out of the race after France Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said Houllier had told him he wouldn't be moving to Newcastle. "Gérard's word is enough for me. He works for us," he said."I talked to Gérard by telephone and he told me 'every time an English club is in difficulty my name comes up'.
A partnership between Shearer and Kevin Keegan had been previously mooted, but it is understood that the two aren't exactly best of friends.
Shearer was asked if he wanted the Newcastle job as he arrived back on Tyneside from his holiday in Barbados this morning. "Am I wanting it?" he replied. "One day, hopefully." Questioned further about the possibility of him linking up with Keegan, he said: "I haven't spoken to Kevin for a long time. We will have to see."
