The Kinnear Conundrum? Bring in Bruce

So we find ourself back to square one. Following a positive 3-2 win over the Baggies at the Hawthorns, the two week FA Cup and International break was supposed to find us recharged and ready to go. Instead, in typical Newcastle fashion, we find ourselves loading a shotgun and blasting away at our left foot.

Just about every media outlet is confirming Joe Kinnear will go under the knife for another heart bypass operation. Once confirmed by the club, we'll wish the gaffer a full and fruitful recovery. However in the meantime the silence from the club is deafening.

Chris Hughton as a contingency arrangement is simply not the answer, as he proved back in September and October. His charge saw us crash horrendously from the comfort zone Keegan had left us. I find it astonishing the Hughton's pick up of the reigns again will be our 4th managerial arrangement of the season. Talk about Athletico Madrid...

Again another typical cost cutting arrangement would be to see Calderwood ensconced, as a Derby supporting colleague pointed out yesterday with a massive smirk on his face. The same Colin Calderwood who left Forest stranded at the bottom of the Championship.

Neither option is a viable one for Newcastle United and the club need to be outward looking. Kinnear is no longer cut out for the stress levels that NUFC brings and we need to build going forward. Time for Ashley to back his words and bring in a manager who will see the club go forward.

With Wigan safe, my own personal choice would be Steve Bruce. Whelan will no doubt play hard ball and force us to write off the N'Zogbia transfer to them but, for a manager who can stabalise and build us up, losing a whiny French git is a small price to pay.

Vote now for your managerial prefence...

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.