With Harry Redknapp turning down the opportunity to move from Portsmouth to Tyneside, Newcastle Football Club now find themselves in serious trouble with very few other suitable candidates to replace Sam Allardyce. And the clock is ticking to find someone quickly so players can be shipped in and out before the transfer window closes.

Whoever the manager will be, everyone will know he’ll be second choice, so the cards are stacked against him before a ball is kicked.

If they’re seeking a British manager, the choices are few due to the plight of the quality managers available. Of course, other managers that would usually be mentioned to be in the running for an open managerial position but can’t be included because Newcastle have already been-there, done-that are Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish and Glenn Roeder.

However, Newcastle could try to convince another manager who is already managing an English club to move to Newcastle.

Here are the top 10 likely contenders to become the next Newcastle United manager (ranked in order of most to least likely):

  1. Alan Shearer
  2. Mark Hughes
  3. Martin Jol
  4. Martin O’Neill
  5. Steve McClaren
  6. Steve Coppell
  7. Neil Warnock
  8. Glenn Hoddle
  9. Chris Coleman
  10. Tony Mowbray

It has to be said that Newcastle United’s board made a massive error in sacking Sam Allardyce at this stage of the season. They obviously thought they’d be able to convince Harry Redknapp to join the Toon for reportedly twice the salary he was making at Portsmouth. But now that plan has failed, Newcastle find themselves in a urgent race against time.