Souness: "In a heartbeat"
Former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness admits he would return to St James' Park "in a heartbeat".
On Saturday Harry Redknapp turned down the role following Sam Allardyce's exit - and Newcastle have been told by Portsmouth they will be wasting their time making any more bids for the 60-year-old.
Asked on Sky Sports 1 if he would be interested in going back, Souness said: "With [there now being] a different chairman, most certainly."
When pressed on whether he would take the job if it was offered to him, he added: "In a heartbeat. It is a big club, one of the big clubs out there. It has got the potential to be one of the best. But it's not a quick fix, and whoever goes in there is going to need certainly a minimum of three or four years."
Newcastle spent vast sums on transfers during Souness' tenure - including the signing of Michael Owen from Real Madrid - but the Scot refuted the suggestion he was fully backed by then-chairman Shepherd.
"I would argue that point because at the end of the day my first choice was (Nicolas) Anelka and (Luis) Boa Morte. I was told, when I spoke to the people in Turkey, when Anelka was for sale at that time, that he could be bought. But I was told he wasn't for sale and couldn't be bought.
"So instead of us spending the £12million there, we bought Albert Luque for £10million and Michael Owen for £16million."
Asked whether those were his decisions, Souness said: "No. I was told Albert Luque would cost £2million."
Redknapp decided to stay at Fratton Park, where chief executive Peter Storrie says he has "a job for life".
Speaking on Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme, Storrie said: "Harry has made it perfectly clear he has made his decision - he wants to stay at Portsmouth. That is the end of the matter. He has made it plain it is not about money so Newcastle can continue to offer him what they like."
Hughes boasts of Blackburn despite Toon rumors
Mark Hughes insists he appreciates the advantages of staying at Blackburn - even if he is operating on a shoestring budget this transfer window.
Hughes was talked about as one of the leading contenders to succeed Sam Allardyce at Newcastle but insists he enjoys a strong position at Rovers.
Hughes said: "There's always speculation when any big job comes up. I seem to be talked about in good terms and I'm appreciative of that but it's just recognition of the work myself and my staff do here.
"I am in a very strong position here, I have a great relationship with the chairman and the board and that is really important.
"When managers have that relationship it's a big decision to forego that as the relationship is the key to whether we can be successful."
Hughes said he expected Allardyce to be back in work sooner rather than later.
He added: "I think the news surprised everyone given the length of tenure of Sam's appointment.
"It was not anywhere near long enough in my view to enable him to be successful.
"There is a lot of pressure and expectation with a number of Premier League jobs and certainly Sam paid the price but he's a proven Premier League manager and I am sure a lot of chairmen will be keeping an eye on what will happen to him in the future."
Roque Santa Cruz, who was yesterday named the Premier League player of the month, is set to return for Blackburn's trip to Bolton tomorrow to ease the club's injury problems.
The former Bayern Munich forward has not trained this week due to a groin problem, but should be in contention.
Tugay (groin) and Jason Roberts (foot) are out, and Aaron Mokoena is on African Nations Cup duty, but David Dunn, Steven Reid and Andre Ooijer could all return after missing the FA Cup defeat by Coventry last weekend.
Pompey warn Magpies off new Harry bid
Newcastle have been told they will be wasting their time making any more bids for Harry Redknapp.
The 60-year-old manager has already rejected one approach from Newcastle - thrashed 6-0 by Manchester United on Saturday - as the Tyneside outfit look for a successor to Sam Allardyce.
Speaking on Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said: "Harry has made it perfectly clear he has made his decision - he wants to stay at Portsmouth. That is the end of the matter. He has made it plain it is not about money so Newcastle can continue to offer him what they like."
He aded: "We only allowed Harry to have a conversation with them as it brought the matter to a head. It is a disruptive time for anyone to have done this in the middle of the transfer window.
"I can understand why Newcastle wanted him as he is one of the best managers in the Premier League. But Harry knows he has a job here for as long as he wants it. He can see there is the potential to go forward."
Former Newcastle owner and chairman Sir John Hall, meanwhile, rates former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier ahead of Redknapp.
Hall said: "I am pleased that Harry has dropped out. None of the fans I have spoken to were behind him. They did not feel he was any better than Sam. I have a high regard for Gerard Houllier and he could do a job at Newcastle. He did well at Lyon."
But Hall poured cold water on a potential partnership between two Geordie icons Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer.
"Alan is the most dedicated professional I have ever met," said the Newcastle vice-president.
"He will probably be a tremendous manager but I do not think he would be prepared to come in yet. Kevin has maybe had his time in football and is now doing other things."
Harry endorses Alan Shearer for Newcastle
Harry Redknapp has backed Alan Shearer to become the next Newcastle manager one day after the Portsmouth boss ruled himself out of the running for personal reasons.
Speaking after Pompey's 2-0 defeat to Sunderland in the north-east, Redknapp hailed Shearer's qualifications for the job and rejected fears his inexperience could be a drawback.
Redknapp said: "I'd give Alan Shearer the job. I think he's perfect for it. Experience doesn't matter because he understands football.
"Roy Keane hasn't got the experience and he knows what he's doing. He's different class and he's going right to the top. There's no reason Alan Shearer can't do that as well.
"He'd set the place alight and the fans would love him. You could bring a couple of experienced people in alongside him and it wouldn't be a problem for him.
"Because of what he means to the place and what the fans think of him and what a player he's been, he'd be absolutely perfect. I wouldn't want to see any further than Alan Shearer."
Redknapp went on to dismiss suggestions he had rejected a reputed £5million per year salary to move to the north-east for any other reasons than his desire to remain at Fratton Park.
Redknapp added: "It was a great opportunity for me to go and manage one of the great football clubs. I understand all that. Some people will say I made the right move and some people will say I should have taken it.
"Everyone's got their own opinions but we all have our own lives. Everybody's got to do what they want to do with their own life, and I love my life.
"I enjoy going to work every day. If I didn't like the place, if I didn't like the owner or if I didn't like the players I'd have been up there like a shot, but there was no need for me to change."
Sunderland boss Keane hailed the performance of two-goal hero Kieran Richardson as his team rebounded from last week's dismal FA Cup third round defeat to Wigan.
Keane said: "We brought Kieran to the club for what you saw today. He's one of the fastest players at the team and when you have a midfielder with pace who can get you a goal it's a massive plus. Kieran gives us something special.
"It was great to keep a clean sheet today and score two goals. I knew there would be no negative energy within the club and I could tell that we were ready for the game today."
Keane singled out striker Kenwyne Jones who returned after missing the Latics defeat with a knee injury with another influential performance up front despite still suffering the after effects of his knock.
Keane added: "There are one or two players who we really struggle to cope without and Kenwyne is nowhere near fit but he showed what a good lad he is and hung in there.
"That's from maybe 60 or 70 % fit. I tend to ask my players not to play unless they are 80 % fit."
