Thousands of Geordies breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday as Newcastle United’s Premier League status was confirmed. The 2-1 win against Birmingham City at St. James’s Park meant that even if all the bottom three teams win all their remaining games, they still couldn’t catch Newcastle. Additionally, Newcastle’s goal difference of -1 is far superior to most of the teams below them.

However, the way the team has been playing, it looks like most of them have already gone on their holidays. Jonas, Steven Taylor, and Kevin Nolan looking like there was still something left to play for yesterday. Does Alan Pardew now play the youngsters to give them some Premier League experience, or does he stick with the first team players to finish as high as possible?

With Newcastle’s remaining games against Chelsea away and West Brom at home, there’s a definite possibility of a top ten finish, something we all would have taken at the start of the season.

Thanks has to go to Chris Hughton, who did so well to lead us back into the Premier League at the first time of asking, and who guided us to some memorable performances at the start of the season.

Alan Pardew, the man who was sacked by League One side Southampton for being mediocre, has been named the new manager of Newcastle United. Pardew has agreed to a five and a half year contract, which is currently one of the largest managerial contracts in European football.

I think a lot of Newcastle fans would have reacted differently to the news if Chris Hughton was replaced by someone who had experience, someone who had won leagues or cups, and who’s teams had been successful. But no, Alan Pardew got the Newcastle job because of his social relationship with Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley.

Make no mistake about it, Pardew will have no grace period, no honeymoon, nor the respect of the players. The man is on a hiding to nothing, and in our eyes, deserves every bit of hiding that he receives. To those fans saying we should back Pardew, I couldn’t disagree more. Pardew has knowingly negotiated a contracted while Chris Hughton was still Newcastle United manager. Pardew is just as much to blame as Mike Ashley and his cronies.

This now begins our boycott of all things Newcastle United. No merchandise, no shirts, no season tickets, nothing – until Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Alan Pardew are well clear of St. James’s Park.

Newcastle United have confirmed that there will be a news conference to announce the successor to Chris Hughton on Thursday lunchtime. Unfortunately, it looks like none of the fans favourites will be appointed, with Martin Jol ruling himself out, and Martin O’Neill’s name quickly disappearing from the list of potential candidates.

Alan Pardew, the man who was sacked by a League One club, is now the odds-on favourite to be become the next Newcastle United manager. If this man couldn’t hack it at Southampton, what in the world can he offer a Premier League club?

Protest Latest:

Rumours of protest are gathering pace for the weekend’s game against Liverpool at St. James’s Park. I have two views on this. The first being that we must support the eleven Newcastle United players on the field, they liked Chris Hughton just as much as we did if not more so. The second being that you pay your money for your season ticket, you have a right to do what you like. Walk out, chant Chris Hughton’s name, support the lads, turn away from the field, whatever – but take action. Don’t complain about Mike Ashley later on when you have a chance to become part of something which will be broadcast live across the world.

NUFC Manager Rumours – Update 1:

The latest news doing the rounds is that Jurgen Klinsmann will be named as boss with Pardew in as his number 2. While Pardew’s name is enough to cause anxiety amongst any Newcastle United fan, the name of Jurgen Klinsmann is definitely enough to make you stand up and take notice. Somehow, I doubt this one is true, but would loved to be proved wrong.

Newcastle United have sensationally sacked manager Chris Hughton with immediate effect. Goalkeeping Coach Paul Barron also leaves the club. A statement from the official club website reads as follows:

Newcastle United Football Club have today parted company with manager Chris Hughton. Goalkeeping coach Paul Barron also leaves the club today.

The board would like to place on record their thanks to Chris for his considerable efforts during the club’s transition from Championship to Premier League football. Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed manager in October 2009. The club wishes him well for the future.

Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward.

The task of appointing a new manager now begins. An announcement will be made shortly regarding transitional arrangements pending the appointment of a successor.

Once again, Mike Ashley has proven that he and his board have no class, foresight or loyalty. The sacking of Hughton is in my opinion, premature to say the least. Yes, NUFC are in a blip, and struggling for form, but all teams go through a dip during the season.

If we’re being honest though, we have to say the writing was on the wall for Hughton. Calderwood leaving, no assistant being appointed, no guaranteed funds for the transfer window all add up to a man on borrowed time.

Hughton had the support of both the Newcastle United players and fans – I don’t know one fan who’s of the opinion that this sacking was a good decision.

Chris Hughton has done a remarkable job as Newcastle manager – this blog would like to thank him for the hard work he’s done and putting some respectability and belief back on Tyneside.

Who Replaces Hughton?

The favourites are:

• Alan Pardew
• Alan Curbishley
• Martin O’Neill

Update 1:

The BBC are reporting that Martin O’Neill is close to agreeing a deal at NUFC.

Update 2:

Martin Jol has handed in his resignation at Ajax.

In a week which most Newcastle United supporters thought couldn’t get much better, a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal loomed on the horizon. After the euphoria of thrashing Sunderland 5-1, Toon fans could be forgiven thinking that history would repeat itself and Newcastle would leave the Emirates empty handed as per usual.

Gunners fans saw Newcastle as an easy three points, and hoped to cement their placing toward the top of the league. Arsene Wenger however praised Newcastle and gaffer Chris Hughton throughout the week saying how impressed he was with how Newcastle were playing. A couple of weeks ago Newcastle United fielded a team of youngsters and reserves in the League Cup and rightfully lost to an Arsenal side who were impressive on the night.

The Premier League though is where it’s at and the senior players for Newcastle have proven themselves to be no pushovers recently. Barton, Carroll, Tiote, and Nolan in particular have been impressive, Tiote especially showing just why he’s so highly regarded by the NUFC coaches.

The NUFC faithful who made the long journey south could quite hardly believe their eyes when Andy Carroll headed in just on the stroke of half-time. Even with minutes to go, Arsenal are more than capable of unlocking the sternest of defences but the Newcastle rearguard held on, with Williamson and young Tim Krul doing a sterling job. yes, we did have the post and crossbar to thank on a couple of occasions, but make no mistake, Newcastle dealt quite comfortably with everything a full strength Arsenal side could throw at them – Tiote having Fabregas in his back pocket throughout the game.

Turmoil and front page headlines have dogged the Newcastle United camp throughout the past couple of weeks, but the Newcastle players are made of sterner stuff than they’re given credit for and are showing everyone just what they’re capable of. While our target remains 17th place and Premier League survival, Newcastle fans across the globe can be proud of their team, and their team proud of them.

Howay the Toon

I’ve been waiting a bit to write this post because it hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re actually champions. It may sound daft, but after all the issues that happened during the summer, I feel more a sense of relief than anything else really.

I remember the relegation and the last game of the season against Villa like it was yesterday. I remember Phil Brown prancing around at Hull being glad to have finished above us and avoid relegation. I remember the turmoil last summer and wondering who was going to be chairman, owner, and manager of our fine football club.

We can now put those memories to bed. Say this and say it proudly: Newcastle United are champions of the Championship and are headed up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Feels good doesn’t it? It makes me proud to be a Geordie and proud of our fantastic football club. Proud of the hard work which has gone on behind the scenes by both the players and backroom staff. Proud that while the media tested and ridiculed the club on the back pages last year, Chris Hughton and his staff got on with it. Proud of our fans who traveled the length and breadth of the country to follow their club while they could have complained about watching Championship football.

Sir Bobby would have been proud.

Next season may be a struggle, and we should expect one, but we’re made of sterner stuff than this time 12 months ago. Anything less than what we’ve given this season won’t be good enough to survive. But I honestly feel that we can now push on from here. Why? Because everyone at the club is united. They all want the same thing – for Newcastle United to be a Premier League football club.

Howay the Toon

On a day which will live long in the memory of Toon fans, we were promoted back to the Premier League without having to kick a ball yesterday, and I must say, it feels great. I remember how I felt when we were relegated and it wasn’t a nice feeling. I also remember how fans of other clubs and media pundits were all too quick with their criticism, and how Newcastle were ‘going to do a Leeds’ and that we were headed for ruin.

I’m proud today to call myself a Geordie and Newcastle United fan. I’m proud that Newcastle United is my football club, and I’m proud of the players and playing staff who have worked tirelessly this season. Let’s not forget what kind of team spirit we had at the end of last season. What a difference a year makes. The players and staff seem to all be pulling in the same direction. The Chairman? We’ll have to wait and see about that one, the jury is still well and truly out. Hopefully he’ll put his hand in his pocket and give Chris Hughton a decent transfer fund.

You could see what it meant to Chris Hughton at the end of game interview, the guy was very emotional. We could do far worse than have him as manager.

I’m expecting a season of struggle next year. Not because I’m pessimistic, but because we haven’t played decent football this year and we’ve still won. Some of the mistakes made at a Championship level will get punished in the Premier League and as fans, we have to acknowledge that. It has been nice to get that winning feeling around the place though, and with a new influx of decent players we should be alright.

Wait, was there a game yesterday? Oh aye, Newcastle beat Sheffield United 2-1.

Newcastle United were once again, found wanting in front of goal as they face Plymouth in the third round of the F.A Cup. Boss Chris Hughton decided to use the full squad with players such as Krul, Kadar, and Nile Ranger getting first team run-outs.

The Toon Army, who descended on the South Coast in their thousands, could be forgiven for wondering why Newcastle weren’t taking the F.A Cup seriously. The likes of Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool have such large squads that they can afford to rotate players. Clearly, this is a signal of intent by NUFC that the league is their priority, but the question has to be asked, would you rather take a lesser squad with the chance of a replay, or take your first team squad and win the game at the first time of asking?

The pitch at Home Park was hardly one that allowed free-flowing football, but Fabrice Pancrate, who could have had a hat-trick, could hardly blame the surface of the field for being so wasteful. Hopefully the Frenchman’s stunning finish at St. James’s Park a few weeks ago wasn’t a fluke.

With Newcastle building momentum, Nicky Butt had a delicate chip tipped onto the bar by the Plymouth Keeper. Lovenkrands and Gutierrez were brought on to replace Pancrate and Alan Smith, but the goal Newcastle were threatening to score never came.

So, we have to play one more game that we could have done without, but we’re in the hat for the fourth round of the F.A Cup.

After our inability to put away our chances yesterday, Chris Hughton (after speaking with the Chronicle), has admitted that Jermaine Beckford is one of a few players that Newcastle United are interested in signing. Beckford has always been fancied by Newcastle – Kinnear wanted him, Shearer wanted him, now it looks like it’s Hughton’s turn. The judgment on whether he’ll take us to the next level are out though – is he Premier League material?

Also mentioned is Michael Chopra. Chris Hughton looks like he fancies the combination of one biggun’ and one luttlun’ up front for Newcastle and we have Ameobi and Carroll as the biggun, and Lovenkrands and Ranger as the littlun’. Bringing in Chopra could mean that Lovenkrands plays out wide. However, unlike Beckford, the Chopra stories have so far been unsubstantiated.

A centre-half and a striker have been the playing areas Hughton has gone on record as saying he’d like to strengthen. But with Coloccini and Taylor doing a pretty good job, who would make way? It was thought that Sheffield United would like to cash in on defender Mathew Kilgallon before his contract ends at the end of the season. Their manager Kevin Blackwell confirmed that their star defender could be set to stay with the Blades until his contract ends. If the Toon want Kilgallon in January, they’re going to have to put up some cash for him, and he may not come cheap.

The January transfer window opens on Friday lads and lasses, and there’s only a matter of time to see whether Mike Ashley will put his money where his mouth is and back the Newcastle United manager in the transfer market.

What more can you say right now about the results Newcastle are getting other than I hope it lasts!

Goals from Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger’s first goal for the club solidified our lead at the top of the Championship to seven points, and 12 points ahead of third place. Once again, Steve Harper proved he’s still got what it takes, as he once more kept another clean sheet. Harper for England? I would really like to see a goalkeeper in better form than Steve right now, I reckon you’d be hard pressed to find one.

I have to admit, I’m not Chris Hughton’s biggest fan, but he (and the rest of the staff) deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve motivated the Newcastle squad, and brought about results at the same time. From what was a ragtag down-and-out group of players when we were relegated are now a determined group of lads who seem like they’re willing to give their all for Newcastle United.

Long may it continue.