Newcastle United could be forced to appoint yet another short-term "firefighter" manager after Joe Kinnear suggested that he might not be able to fully resume managerial duties this season.
All decisions are on hold until Monday when Kinnear, who underwent a triple bypass operation in February, has an appointment with a cardiologist. After carrying out tests, the specialist will inform Kinnear whether he can return to work before the end of May, yet the Irishman admits that even if he does come back it might be in an advisory role.
"Whatever happens I'll have an input, it's as simple as that," said the 62-year-old. "If I can't do certain things I'll still be speaking to staff and players at the club. I'll have a major say."
In the manager's absence Newcastle have been under the reluctant charge of the first-team coach Chris Hughton but with form dismal and relegation now a real possibility, the temptation could be to introduce a "firefighter" to help ensure Premier League survival.
Despite persistent noises to the contrary from the boardroom there are strong suggestions that Newcastle have discreetly sounded out an available, "credible" manager about the possibility of taking over if doctors deem Kinnear unfit to continue.
Terry Venables, who annoyed Mike Ashley, the club's owner, by refusing the job before Kinnear's appointment, is not believed to be the man in question.
Whatever happens between now and May it seems Kinnear is eyeing a possible move upstairs. Indeed with current, short-term deal due to expire in June and a two-year contract extension still unsigned, the possibility of the former Wimbledon manager accepting the job as Dennis Wise's successor is growing. Wise is likely to leave this summer after not only a cooling of his relationship with Ashley but mounting frustration with his own, increasingly amorphous, role. Tellingly Wise is said to have been irked when Ashley allowed Kinnear to sign the Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands against his advice.
A director of football post also could suit Kinnear as it would enable him to spend part of the week at his north London home. Whether his successor as manager – and Ashley has his eye on Wigan's Steve Bruce – would countenance working with him is another matter, though.
"I'm just desperate to be back to do what I can for Newcastle," said Kinnear. "I still think we have enough quality players to see us through this. And I want to say that what's happening at Newcastle now will never happen again."
Meanwhile Derek Llambias has claimed relegation would not force the club into administration and that Ashley is not planning to sell it. "If we were relegated we'd have to restructure our business plan like everybody else," Newcastle's managing directorn said. "But our finances are strong and there would be no threat of administration. The club is not for sale, that's not where we want to go."
