In today's Times, he says that, although he is at a magnificent club, he would answer the call if it came and think about it... Let's see, he can stay at a club where he's an icon, where he is making progress and where he is never bad-mouthed by anyone. Or he can go to a job that's less well-paid, he'll get slagged off no end and that he has already done. Hmmm.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Answers

He's a simple-hearted patriot - and the #3 million pa they're allegedly offering would also sweeten his retirement pot!

He's going nowhere - full stop!!

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

They're talking about 3 Mil per for whoever puts his neck in the noose so god forbid they offer it to Bobby.

I'm an Engerland fan but not at the expense of the Toon. That WOULD make me a whingeing miserable owld git.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

My application is in the post. #3M pa. Three bliidy million a year. The world has gone mad.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

The thing is, it would be a disaster for us because we'd have to panic buy yet another manager and giving Shearer the job would be suicide. It's not the long term solution England want either.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Interesting how he dropped his 12month rolling contract into the conversation. I seem to remember Keegan getting a 10 year contract under similar circumstances.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

The rolling contract was Bobby's request so he could leave more or less when he wanted to.....

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Where did you get that from Dougal, first time I've heard of it? I seem to remember nearly a week's wrangling before the contract situation was sorted out with YBR asking for 3 years. Mind you, I also remember the child in Close Encounters wearing a stripy outfit, but he wasn't when I watched it on Carlton Cinema last night...

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Blue and white hoopy T-shirt wasn't it?


-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

If the board of NUFC did not terminate YBR's contract then he won't go anywhere. He is a man of honour and would not break his contract with some minor Spanish Catalan club to take up the job he wanted.

Part-tim caretaker? Maybe. He's young enough and fit enough to do 2 jobs.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

I just remember Bobby saying at the time that it meant he could go when he felt it was time...

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

That's my recollection also Duogal - it was perceived to be a mutually advantageous agreement.
In response to Geordie's point - I'm afraid that if Bobby was offered the job and he wanted to take it, from a practical standpoint, the existence of his Contract with NUFC would become meaningless. However, I just can't see the FA wanting to appoint someone his age. With five months to the next competitive game they will surely wish to make a permanent appointment - unless, of course, the man they want isn't available until say the end of the season.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

I hope they appoint someone soon as that will remove YBR from the equation and he won't have to worry about moving.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

We all know contracts are worthless in football but my point was about Bobby's loyalty not anything to do with legal issues.

He won't do it anyway.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Metro Radio are reporting that Freddie Shepherd is saying Bobby is under contract to Newcastle and there is no way they will release him.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Let Venables take it and leave YBR to enjoy his last years in football with a team and fanbase who love him.

Besides, there's never been a good sequel since Empire Strikes Back (1980).

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

A large majority of the online polls are in favour of Venables taking over, our own YBR has spoken out in favour of him, will the FA bow to popular demand in the way that they appointed Keegan?

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

You can't see anyone in a job take it, it's a near impossable job to do. The Only Applicants will be Venables, Lippi, Luxemburgo, Vialli, Dalglish and Gullit. It's gonna be Venners by the looks of things.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Terminator 2, too, Bobby.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

It seems I'm well out of line here, but I think we should appoint the best possible man for the job, even is he happens to be foreign.
Outside of Terry Vegetables, and BR, there is not one English coach capable of making a success of this job.
If a top-class foreign coach isn't available, TV would be the best short-term fix, but I doubt he would take the job on those terms. Similarly, BR could do the job, allegedly isn't totally enamoured with his present bosses, and is probably incredibly frustrated by the financial handcuffs that are preventing him from doing the job to the best of his ability. If he was offered the job, even on a short-term basis - say through the next WC Finals, IF qualification was achieved - he might well take it.
Assuming those two guys weren't available on the proposed terms, I'd like to see a top foreign coach, like Wenger, come in. This would hopefully introduce some new ideas, practices and policies that would help dispell the suffocating parochialism that hinders our development as a international force in the game. In truth however, there aren't that many good ones, and even fewer who are available.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Truth is, there are probably only two people who would do the job - Venables and Robson. Both know the ropes, both are proven managers (although personally, I think El Tel is something of a myth). The question ultimately is which of these two the FA would prefer. I'm not remotely impressed at YBR even contemplating this job.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

You have to ask yourself "why" he's even contemplating it Dougal.
I find the answer to that particular question rather disturbing.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

This "contemplation" was, I believe, an off the cuff remark, I doubt he was serious, he has nothing to prove and he would be on a hiding to nothing. I cannot see why he did not rule himself out tho'.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

That's exactly my point Tony.
By not simply ruling himself out, he has effectively invited the FA to approach him. In addition, that idiot FS blathering on publicly about Bobby's contractual situation doesn't help one little bit.
To be honest, I'm getting rather cocnerned about this now.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Tony, it wasn't "Off-The-cuff". It was an article in the Times that he penned. I agree that the worrying thing is that he is basically saying that he's up for it. I wouldn't rush to blame the board - FS was in the papers about a week ago praising him to the high heavens, saying that he was certainly a better manager than KK.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

brace yourself lads YBR will take the post on offer and we will hit trouble..... and be left with a bunch of players signed by an 'old' manager Cort,Cordone,Bassedas et al more than a tad concerned here

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

The thing that is really upsetting me is the fact that Bobby talks in this article about how he is at a magnificent club, his club, that he is the right man for Newcastle because he understands the local psyche blah blah. Exactly. Then he's saying that he's also perfect for the England job for more or less the same reasons. If he left, it would rip the stuffing out of NUFC. Please will someone (Gav?) tell me I'm being a stupid, negative cow.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

I won`t feel confident until I actually hear wor Bobby say `no - I`m staying here in Newcastle`. It would be a massive blow to the Club if he did leave, and it is making me feel very nervous.(:o(

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Galaxy, I just spoke to Screach (he was cooking a chicken curry which smelt nice ower the phone) and he is much more upbeat. Am attempting to get through to Jonno who is also a positive soul. Will report back with hi sthoughts.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

I`d like to think that this is an irrational worry - but I seem to be in an `if it can happen - it will happen` frame of mind. I think it comes from years of practice bringing up children and litters of puppies. In other words, I think mentally I prepare myself for the worst, and if it doesn`t happen - well that`s a bonus!!!(:o)

There, I`ve convinced myself that I am being unnecessarily pessimistic (with apologies for any double letters in the wrong place), and, of course Bobby won`t leave us in the lurch! (:o) Think beautiful happy thoughts!!!

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Will youse twos just shut up for Gawd's sake. If YBR were to take the England job, he'd be lucky to even pick a team. His first competitive game wouldn't be for 5 months. There's a lot of waata to gaan under the bridge before that.

Yes, I know he's taken the flack before, both as national team coach (I always thought Cloughie should have done that - they could've taken his teeth oot and instaaled seats - boom boom) and as coach at Barca, neither of which is an easy ride (to continue the charra metaphor).

But why oh why would he throw himself into the cauldron again? He's got a job to do at Newcastle and I'm sure he'll be happy ending his career at SJP. Indeed, I heard from impecable sources that he's already got aplot of land between Gallowgate and Leazes Park earmarked for his final resting place.

Nah - I can't see it happening. Well, not full time. I've always thought that being England coach is a piece of the proverbial and can be done during the resting periods of a proper job. To be honest, with a decent backroom staff, much of the daily legwork could be done remotely. If he were to take it part time (I know they didn't want Kev to do it on that basis) I'm sure he'd be successful until the right man (or woman, or Frenchie) arrives. But in all honesty, the FA would be daft to do it - so they probably will.

PS. It tasted even better Dougal!

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2000

Whoever gets the job will still have to put up with the dinosaurs who'll still be in charge overall, and I can't see even Wenger putting up with them for very long.

Regarding Bobby, I understood that the rolling contract was so that he could quit football when he thought the time was right, not primarily so he could move to another management job somewhere else when he thought the time was right.

The big worry for me is if he has sussed out the ars***les at SJP, and that, plus being strapped for cash, has got him at least wondering.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2000

If he was worried about the lack of cash he wouldn't have taken the job. I reckon the NUFC job is exciting him enough at the minute. He wouldn't want to waste his last years of management spending one week in ten on a training pitch with other peoples players. Not involved enough.

I think we can dismiss this talk now.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2000