Since Alan Pardew’s departure at the end of last year, things haven’t improved on the pitch for Newcastle. John Carver was appointed as ‘head coach’ until the end of the season and has only managed one victory in his six matches in charge so far.

It is unlikely that he will stay on as boss past this season, with the need for a manager with more experience and pedigree than Carver.

So, with that in mind, here are four options to become the next permanent Newcastle United manager...

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has turned his current side Bournemouth, from League Two strugglers to the brink of a very first Premier League adventure. The 37-year old had injury cut short a playing career which saw him amass 271 league appearences for the Cherries. He retired in 2007 and took over at Bournemouth just a year later. He did well to keep the club from relegation to the Conference after a 17 point deduction then won promotion to League One the following season.

After a great start to in League One, Howe left to join Burnley in January 2011. It didn’t work out at Turf Moor as he rejoined Bournemouth just a year and a half later. He then led the club to the Championship and in their second season back, are top of the table. Perhaps the brightest young manager in England, Howe has performed a job at Bournemouth that very few people could. His appointment at Newcastle could ride on if he can secure promotion with the Cherries but even still is a great choice to become the next permanent manager at Newcastle.

 

Steve Bruce

The current Hull City manager seems like he would be the perfect fit at St James Park. A boyhood Newcastle fan, Bruce has the CV to match his love for the club. His first taste of managing in the Premier League came when he led Birmingham to play-off glory in 2002. Although the club suffered relegation in 2006, he led them straight back to the top flight before leaving to join Wigan in November 2007.

After two seasons of performing higher than expected, Bruce left to join Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland in 2009. He didn’t set the world alight at Sunderland but since joining Hull has done a fantastic job. He won promotion in his first year in charge before Premier League survival and a FA Cup final followed. Hull came close to winning the FA Cup but let a two goal lead slide against Arsenal in the final. The club are in a dog fight in their second season back and with Bruce seemingly taken Hull as far as he can, the step up to Newcastle is not out of the question.

 

Michael Laudrup

After being sacked by Swansea in February 2014 despite performing outstandingly throughout his time there, the 50-year-old Dane is currently in Qatar managing Lekhwiya SC. A year before getting the sack at the Welsh club, he led Swansea to League Cup glory after a 5-0 victory over Bradford at Wembley. It was the first major trophy in Swansea’s history and he also guided them to a ninth place finish in the Premier League.

Laudrup won many trophies as a player and has had fantastic success as a manager to date. He has won trophies in his native Denmark and managed clubs in Spain and Russia over the years. With more financial backing, who knows what kind of job Laudrup could do at St. James Park. A winner with the pedigree to succeed again in England, he is the type of manager Newcastle are looking for and Laudrup would surely love a return to the Premier League.

Steve McClaren

 

The former England boss was heavily linked with the Newcastle job after Alan Pardew left the club. He is still the bookies favourite to take charge next season but that will mostly depend on whether or not he can lead Derby to the Premier League. Whilst people mostly remember McClaren for his terrible rein at England, the 53-year-old has an impressive record in club football. He led Middlesbrough to their first major trophy in 2004 as they defeated Bolton 2-1 in the League Cup final. He also took Middlesbrough to a European Final, finishing runners-up in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup.

After England, McClaren brought success to FC Twente in Holland as the club won the Dutch title for the first time in their history. Now at Derby, McClaren has done a terrific job in turning them around from a mid-table team to a side challenging for automatic promotion. A man with the knowhow to succeed in club football and in England, McClaren deserves another chance in the Premier League and Newcastle could well be the team for him.