Partners: GoodsFromJapan | JapanVisitor | PortugalVisitor

Premiership Football News: Chris Hughton

Stepping out of the limelight

Marc Fox

It's certainly not sexy football, and it might not exactly be pleasing every one of the Newcastle United supporters desperate to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, but Chris Hughton's calm, practical guidance is reaping rewards at St. James Park.

You'd never guess the Newcastle job was Hughton's first managerial gig by the distance between the Geordies and the chasing pack in this season's Championship table.

But the long-time Spurs assistant, and more recently first team coach on Tyneside, has made a mockery of the off-field controversy surrounding the club's ownership to bring a little respect back to Newcastle this year.

Hughton's is an unlikely tale of success.

The 41-year-old former Spurs, West Ham and Brentford full-back with over 50 Republic of Ireland caps had never lived outside London before accepting the chance to work alongside Kevin Keegan on his return to St James.

Thanks to owner Mike Ashley's constant meddling, his stint alongside Keegan was brief, but despite twice taking temporary charge during last season's ill-fated campaign, Hughton was both times overlooked for the top job by Ashley.

First, Joe Kinnear was dragged out of retirement to replace Keegan, before Alan Shearer failed to keep United in the top flight following his appointment last April.

What's more, had Ashley - the club's controversial owner since 2008 - had his way during the summer he would have offloaded his plaything to another businessman, Barry Moat, who had guaranteed Shearer a full-time return with Hughton's role in doubt.

As negotiations between Ashley and Moat dawdled, the new Championship season got underway with Hughton taking charge on a purely week-by-week arrangement. Nobody expected too much - especially after his full-strength side had been humbled 6-1 by Leyton Orient just weeks before in pre-season.

But by the time Moat called off his £100 million buyout, Hughton had been crowned Championship manager-of-the-month for both August and September and Newcastle were flying high at the top of the table.

By October, Hughton's handling of a squad still packed with high maintenance high earners despite a flood of departures including Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Damien Duff was receiving plaudits, and Ashley offered him a contract until the end of the 2010/11 season.

If Newcastle can avoid a 1995/96-style wobble in the run-in, Hughton should spend the second year of his deal pitting his wits against the best in the Premier League.

With assistant Colin Calderwood, he has gelled a squad including spiky characters such Joey Barton and a raft of foreign signings that flopped at the higher level. They've insisted the squad spend more time together socially, and consequently the cliques that helped scupper their Premiership status have disappeared.

The management team have also instigated a player committee comprising senior players as a vital link between them and the squad. Alan Smith, the former England international midfielder and current Newcastle captain, is self-appointed chairman.

And Smith, for one, believes the club can return to their rightful spot in the Premier League by holding their nerve between now and the end of the season.

"It's always a rollercoaster at this club - the fans know that better than me - and we just need to keep our heads together," says Smith. "We're still on course for the main aim.

"When we went to West Brom in August nobody thought that being where we are now would be even possible."

"We've come a long way and we're determined to carry it on."

Marc Fox

"The Onside In-Site" Copyright © From 2000. All rights reserved. Soccerphile Ltd.