Paul Merson has criticised Newcastle United’s new consortium for appointing former Celtic supremo Nick Hammond on a short-term basis.
Hammond, who spent two years at the Scottish giants before moving to Tyneside, has been brought in to oversee the upcoming January window, with a right-back, central-back and a midfielder prioritised.
His credentials include a 20-year stint at Reading, where he worked as a player and director of football, before becoming moving to West Brom to carry out the same role in 2016.
The move is not thought to be a permanent one, with Hammond working as an advisor to Eddie Howe, chief scout Steve Nickson and the consortium for next month’s window before the search for a long-term director of football commences.
Sky Sports pundit Merson, however, is not impressed.
The former Arsenal winger had previously taken aim at Amanda Staveley and company for sacking Steve Bruce in October while the club were - and still are - in a relegation battle, believing the new owners not to have a plan upon arrival.
Merson also warned Newcastle’s new owners about the job at hand when the £300million was completed, playing down suggestions of overnight success while declaring that Newcastle are “17 players short” from being a decent side.
Now, his latest tirade sees him question the appointment of ex-Celtic chief Hammond.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense,” Merson told the Gillette Soccer Saturday panel.
“It’s stupidity at the highest level. I don’t think they know what they are doing anyway at Newcastle.”
