• Premier League

Jol to be interviewed for Newcastle job

Harry Harris, ESPNsoccernet
December 7, 2010
Martin Jol quit Ajax on Monday night © Getty Images
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Martin Jol wants the vacant job at Newcastle United, according to well placed sources in Amsterdam, and is to fly to the North East for an interview as the club in turmoil attempt to have a new manager by their next match against Liverpool.

Chris Hughton was sacked on Monday and hours later Jol quit Ajax, with Newcastle able to choose between three managers currently all available and eager for a break back in Premier League football - Jol, Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishley.

Jol is expected to fly into the North East later for talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who prefers the 54-year-old to former West Ham and Southampton manager Pardew and ex-West Ham boss Curbishley.

Jol was on a sizeable wage at Ajax and with rumours suggesting Hamburg may be waiting in the wings, he could be a costly appointment for the Magpies.

Curbishley, though, is not interested in the job. An insider told ESPNsoccernet: "This is not a challenge for Alan, not at all. He sees his future elsewhere. If you asked my opinion, and it's only an opinion, Martin Jol is a highly paid manager, and Alan Pardew would be on a lot less in terms of salary, and for that reason you would think it would be more likely Pardew than Jol."

Former Sports Direct employee Paul Kemsley, who was Tottenham's vice-chairman when Jol was manager, is the man on whom Ashley relies for advice about football.

Jol covets a return to the English game and thought he was going to be appointed Roy Hodgson's successor at Fulham, but an escape clause expired and he remained with Ajax. Under pressure Jol has now resigned from Ajax, who lie fourth in the Eredivisie and have been eliminated from the Champions League with their final group game against AC Milan to come on Wednesday.

Ashley wants the new man installed before Liverpool are at St James' Park for a live game on ESPN in the UK, 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

Pardew is the bookies' favourite at the moment, ahead of Jol, and is odds-on in places.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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