5 Possible Replacements for Alan Pardew at Newcastle United
Newcastle United have released Alan Pardew from his contract to allow him to take over as manager at Crystal Palace, the Tyneside club have confirmed.
Pardew will now take over from the sacked Neil Warnock at Selhurst Park after spending much of his playing career with the Eagles.
The move now leaves a vacancy at St. James' Park, where 10th-placed Newcastle will look for someone to carry on a progressive season and secure another top-half finish.
Here are five candidates who could replace Pardew once he secures a move to Palace.
And no, Newcastle fans, Frank de Boer and Jurgen Klopp do not feature.
Fabricio Coloccini
Current centre-back and captain Fabricio Coloccini had been a favourite for the job with a number of bookmakers earlier in the week.
Despite never having held a managerial post and still being at the peak of his game, Coloccini could be persuaded to take up a player-manager role until the end of the season.
He would provide continuity for the side and needs no time to get used to new players, but of course, transitioning from team-mate to boss is not always easy.
Newcastle aren't considered in any danger for relegation, but it would still be a gamble to appoint the 32-year-old.
Steve Bruce
Hull City boss Steve Bruce isn't doing well this season, with his side only just above the drop zone, but he is linked with the Newcastle job pretty much every time it becomes available—and sometimes when it isn't—and it seems almost inevitable that he will coach there at some point in his career.
Bruce reached the FA Cup final last season but hasn't been able to translate that into league progress this term.
He hasn't become a terrible boss, though, and sometimes a change in scenery refreshes and rejuvenates. He might not be the most popular appointment with the fans—but when has that ever stopped Toon owner Mike Ashley?!
David Moyes
This one is more for the end of the season, should Coloccini take over now, for example.
David Moyes has only just started his reign in Spain as Real Sociedad boss, and it would be a big surprise if he walked away from that, but come the end of the season he may consider a short stint away from the Premier League to have been sufficient.
If La Liga doesn't suit him, the Newcastle job would be a pretty much perfect fit for Moyes to showcase his own managerial traits; a good-sized club, reasonable expectations of progression (i.e., not Champions League) and room to improve.
Steve McClaren
If Newcastle are thinking of appointing a progressive, impressive manager who could be currently available to a bigger club, they need to be looking at the Championship.
Steve McClaren has taken the long route back to impressing in English football after failing with the national team, but he has been doing a great job with Derby County, almost getting them promoted last season and currently in the play-off places again this term.
Newcastle would be a step up, but he may feel he needs to see out the job he has done thus far.
Eddie Howe
Finally, 37-year-old Eddie Howe would be a great candidate for consideration if Newcastle want someone younger and with ambition.
The Bournemouth manager has proven his capabilities, albeit in lower leagues, but he could be in the Premier League next year anyway with his side top of the Championship. Taking him now might be a wise option, giving him half a season to adjust and then be clear for his role and requirements next term.
Again, whether he would leave at present is open to debate, while he also didn't make much impact with Burnley in his short time there.