Goals from substitute Shola Ameobi and full-back Jose Enrique saw Newcastle increase their lead at the top of the table and further stamp their authority on the Championship.

In a tight game with chances for both sides, it was Nottingham Forest’s goalkeeper Lee Camp who was the busier of the two ‘keepers. Andy Carroll’s volley in the first half showed just why Fabio Capello is showing an interest in the centre-forward, but Camp was equal to the effort, diving smartly to pull off a reflex save. The Newcastle defence didn’t have it all their own way though as Forest came forward with increasing confidence. It was difficult to judge on this performance why they haven’t won away from home in seven successive appearances.

After injuring his ankle in the first-half, Andy Carroll came off to be replaced by Shola Ameobi. The watching Alan Shearer would have been proud of Shola’s strike. After being played in by Nolan, Ameobi turned his marker and hit a low let foot shot across the Forest keeper which went in off the post.

Shola’s goal wasn’t his only contribution for the night as his smart back-heel played in fan favourite Jose Enrique who shot right-footed beyond the keeper. That saw Enrique mobbed by his teammates and it was plain to see the bond that the Newcastle players share – a far cry from the players who represented Newcastle when they were relegated.

This victory means that Newcastle can finish no lower than fourth, and a defeat for Nottingham Forest accompanied by a Newcastle win this weekend will see the Toon promoted. Chris Hughton’s name was once again chanted from the terraces and he deserves every accolade – this is a Newcastle side who are truly United.

The man favoured by Keith Harris of Seymour Pierce to complete the takeover of Newcastle is said to be within days of finalising a deal. George Culkin, one of the most well respected football journalists, has reported that one of the potential obstacles to the takeover going through, the club’s ongoing saga with former boss Kevin Keegan, will no longer stand in the way of Newcastle’s future.

The saga is set to be concluded on Friday as both parties have agreed to adhere to the decision of an independent arbitration panel. With this out of the way, there appears to be little obstruction to Barry Moat’s takeover and the appointment of Alan Shearer as Newcastle United’s permanent manager.

Potential Newcastle United owner Barry Moat has been given an extended deadline by current Chairman Mike Ashley, as the Tyneside businessmen is in talks with Barclays bank to secure enough funding.

A club statement from the official site reads as follows:

NEWCASTLE United Football Club confirms that it has extended its deadline to Barry Moat to table an offer for the Club.

The extension has been granted in order to allow Barry Moat and his advisors to conclude funding arrangements with Barclays, current bankers, for the continuation of last season’s £39m facility.

This would allow a formal offer to be tabled.

There’s some interesting verbage in the above statement with the key word being concluded. That term appears to indicate that talks with the club are at an advanced stage and all that needs to be done to complete the takeover, would be the approval of the bank.

We were all waking up this morning expecting either good or bad news, but at least there would have been some resolution. As things stand, the powers that be at NUFC are still playing the waiting game with the fans. There could have been far worse news this morning for sure, but unless there’s positive news within the next 48 hours, I seriously fear that it will be too late for Newcastle United to act in the transfer window.

One things for sure, being a Newcastle fan is never boring.

The Daily Mail are reporting today that should Barry Moat’s bid to takeover Newcastle United be accepted, then Alan Shearer could be re-instated as the Toon’s manager “within days”. Mike Ashley, who is said to be flying back from Hawaii to discuss Moat’s bid, is due in London to meet with Keith Harris of Seymour Pierce.

If Ashley doesn’t accept this bid, then surely time has ran out on expecting new owners before the end of the transfer window. I can barely contemplate Mike Ashley staying on as owner let alone having to go through another season like the last.

The club needs a lift and wholesale changes need to be made from the boardroom to the playing staff if we’re to mount anything like a serious promotion bid.

Newcastle’s first game back, and the entire nation were waiting for them to slip up against promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion. The prelude to the game saw Alan Shearer go on record to say that he would “dearly love” to be manager of Newcastle United.

Rumours of a bust-up within Newcastle’s camp saw Joey Barton (surprise surprise) demoted to the subs bench. The first half was pretty even with both sides having chances to take the lead. It wasn’t until Martis put West Brom ahead a few minutes before the break – Ameobi managing to take a kick at his own keeper in an attempted clearance and making sure Harper didn’t return for the second half.

All credit to the Toon though, they came out after the break looking determined to get back in the game and the equaliser came with Damien Duff being put through by Ameobi. The Newcastle squad looked absolutely knackered though and mid-way through the second-half Chris Hughton made an odd change bringing Joey Barton on for Andy Carroll. Tim Krul kept Newcastle in it with a fine display of three or four top notch saves and stand in captain Alan Smith put in a gritty and determined display at the centre of Newcastle’s midfield.

This was a decent display against the promotion favourites. However, if Newcastle don’t get in any additional players, then they’ll be in deep trouble. Coloccini looks way out of his depth even at this level, and Jonas’ final ball was very, very average. The starting eleven today had no pace whatsoever, and whoever the next Toon boss is, finding players with pace should be a top priority.

Speaking before the charity game for Sir Bobby Robson’s charity, Shearer said:

“I am the same as everyone else, I am in limbo. I don’t know what is going on.

“Everyone is telling me there are people in to buy the club. If that is the case, then great.”

“I want it sorted out as quickly as everyone else does.

“I’m a fan like everyone else and I don’t like to see the situation the club is in.”

This is a damning indictment of the situation Newcastle United finds itself in. If the favourite to become the next boss knows just as much as the next bloke on the street, then it’s no wonder we’re up the creek without a paddle. You just can’t run a football club that way.

Hopefully the Geordies present at St. James’s Park when we play Leeds this week will let their opinions be known. Something needs to be done and quick. Forget the start of the season, there’s only five weeks left for the new manager to operate in the transfer window. If nothing happens before then (worse case scenario), then things could look very, very bleak for NUFC.

The Police had it right, only for Newcastle United, nobody seems to be listening. If our humiliating 6-1 defeat against Leyton Orient this afternoon wasn’t signal enough for Mike Ashley that he needs to get out of Toon and quick, then I shudder to think what will.

Ashley, who is holding out for 100 million pound bids, surely must be sweating now. Potential buyers of the club are going to point to this defeat as justification for not paying out the full amount for the Toon. If the club can’t beat Leyton Orient in a friendly with their first choice eleven, how on earth are they going to compete in the Championship?

It was at the beginning of last month that we heard from Seymour Pierce’s Keith Harris that the club would be sold before the end of June. We’ve also heard from Derek Llambias who said that NUFC had received more than two bids of 100 million. So what on earth has happened since then? We shudder to even think – it’s unbearable and unacceptable.

The only thing we can cling to now is hope. Hope that a deal is just around the corner and hope that Alan Shearer is still around when the new owners come calling, because if nothing else, he can get this club back on its feet again and headed in the right direction.

Newcastle United got off to a positive start today as they defeated Shamrock Rovers 3-0. Goals from Steven Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger sealed the victory.

You can see Chris Hughton’s response in the video below. Is it just me, or does he seem very coy when asked about next week and the game against Darlington?

Update: There was no news this week (what’s new eh?) and Alan Shearer didn’t go anywhere near London. I’m going to resort to not blogging about anything until we know it’s true. The last piece of certain news was Keith Harris’ radio interview which said that Newcastle United would be sold by the end of June. Until I hear something official, I’m not going to believe anything put out by the local or national press. I suggest you do the same.

I normally don’t blog about rumour mongering from the tabloids, but there’s such widespread talk now about Alan Shearer’s summoning to London where he will be filled in on the future of NUFC. I respect the lads over at nufc.com, and even they have posted something about the future being made public soon, so it must be pretty nailed on.

We can only hope that the news is good – anything other than Shearer’s appointment and some progression on the sale of the club wouldn’t do us any benefit at all.

Howay the Toon

As we blogged about yesterday, the fact that there was nothing published in the national newspapers was a sign that there could be positive things in the works for Newcastle United.

Only hours later, several media outlets published news that Wednesday and Thursday could be pivotal for the future of the Toon, and even more so, Alan Shearer. Quotes from current Managing Director Llambias mitigate that Shearer could be appointed as boss no later than early next week – possibly as soon as Thursday, the 18th.

The books are due to be opened on Wednesday for consortiums who have proven beyond doubt that they have sufficient funds to be able to complete their respective takeovers. We are led to believe that the consortiums are all in favour as appointing Shearer as manager so as far as this blog is concerned, the sooner the better. Let’s get the preparations for next season underway please, we’re already way behind.

Howay the Toon