From today's Guardian/Observer....

Gregory and Newcastle: The talk of the Toon

Sunday January 14, 2001

Aston Villa sources close to John Gregory and his coaching team of Steve Harrison and Ross MacLaren are indicating they will up sticks and quit for Newcastle United.

Their whispering campaign has been going on for several weeks, throughout Gregory's uncomfortable stand-off with 'time-warp' chairman Doug Ellis after which Ellis demanded - and received - a grovelling apology.

Newcastle, Villa's opponents in this week's FA Cup replay, have not encouraged the gossip, with chairman Freddy Shepherd telling one reporter: 'Gregory will never manage this club while I am chairman.' But talk of the move has increased in the past week, especially in the Villa dressing room.

So what gives? Gregory might benefit from speculation if it was perceived that he might quit, with fans already calling for the chairman's head. And, while Shepherd has privately rubbished the speculation, his relationship with manager Bobby Robson has been strained by the club's refusal to allow Robson to take temporary charge of England and the board's disquiet over his recent transfer buys.

And there's the rub. Gregory's unease at Villa was caused by the club's lack of spending. Yet Robson has been forced to hunt for cut-price bargains at home and abroad. Add to that Ellis's decision on Friday to reactivate the £9.5m Juan-Pablo Angel purchase and the picture is, at best, clouded by intrigue.

A close friend of Gregory said: 'He wants to work for a club that has passion and ambition. He's finding it harder working with a chairman like Ellis.' Gregory, aware of the gossip, yesterday briefed one reporter, insisting that while he knew of the gossip, he had not instigated it. If Gregory did go, the word in Scotland is that the Hibernian manager, Alex McLeish might replace him. Hibs are resigned to losing McLeish to the Premiership.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Answers

Ugh! Didn't think that man could become anymore loathsome in my eyes, but to read that he's starting his own rumours about moving to NUFC...sheesh. Methinks that hairdye he's using has fried whatever braincells he's got left.

Would love to have seen him make a 'grovelling apology' to Ellis though. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

>>>>>Gregory will never manage this club while I am chairman.

That sounds like a devil and deep blue sea situation for a number of contributors on here!

On the subject of managers, have we ever discussed Harry Redknap? I don't know if he could be prised out of London, or whether he can build a team with the necessary steel to challenge at the very top, but he plays the game in a style welcomed here, and has a keen eye for a good player. I don't know if he'll still be around when YBR retires in 10 years time though...

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

We made our feelings on Gregory quite clear last week when he was pratting about on the touchline!

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

>>>>>Gregory will never manage this club while I am chairman.

Not the sort of statement you make lightly this one!!! I'd like to see a young coach come into the club soon taking over from Wadsworth as a realistic successor to Robson, working with Robson for a year or even two before taking the reigns.

I wonder if Curbishley would take the job?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Harry Redknapp says he will never manage another English club. I have to say, his passion for entertaining the masses is laudable but I don't like him very much. It's a worry about who will take over once YBR calls it a day. I think YBR likes Gregory which may count for something but we have to admit it's been a bit of a poisoned chalice of a job so there may be surprisingly few takers.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

On the telly, Steph, everytime the camera panned on to the stupid fart, all you could see was him spitting - yes spitting by the touchline. It really made my blood boil. This man clearly lacks respect. AND in the post match interview he was musing about how Newcastle United suffered from travel sickness.

Why he ever became a manager is totally beyond me. He approaches the game in the same way most second-rate linesmen do. Bollocks to him.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

>>>>Harry Redknapp says he will never manage another English club

That sounds like football-speak for "For Christ's sake come and get me somebody!" :-)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Have I missed something, I thought we had a manager.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

So lets start a list of possible candidates.

I've got two names.

1) Peter Taylor - young coach. Has got brilliant results in last three positions. England U.21, Gillingham and now Leicester. Would have to be brought in after Robson retires, however that would probably have to be in another two seasons. We have enough promising young kids at the club to tempt him. May not know the foreign market as he has only bought local lads while at leicester. However he as to have coached against some of the best young players in Europe.

2) Stuart Pearce - part time player at West Ham, involved with the England team set up. I think Pearce has intelligantly run a self promoting campaigne overlast two seasons with a view to management. States himself that he's not ready for a front line managerial position but rather as an understudy. Has, or is completing all EPL and FIFA coaching badges.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2001

Here's another one to ponder....George Burley.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

I still cant work oit why Beardo isnt involved with the first team .. but lets face it we ALL know who the next Newcastle manager will be , will the real Slim Shady please stand up :- )

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

not GAV????! ; - )

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

Pearce didn't do very well at Forest as player-manager: he tells a story of his first day when he chose a side that looked just about right and his missus pointed out that he had 11 outfiled players.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001

MIN! I told you that on the QT! I hope they divvn't retract the offer now cos of your big gob....

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2001