Newcastle know importance of making the right call as we look back at the club's hits and misses

FOR a couple of years, it looked like Mike Ashley was going to continue the precedent set by former Newcastle chairmen with regards to the revolving door of managers at the club.

In total, seven men grabbed the reigns of control at St James’ Park during Ashley’s first two years at the helm. Unsurprisingly, that period proved to be one of the messiest and most turbulent periods in the history of the clubs, as fan unrest and ownership uncertainty clouded the club’s fortunes, culminating in relegation from the top-flight.

His reputation was smeared further when he got rid of the popular Chris Hughton over four years ago. He has appointed just one manager since then, and has reportedly ceded all responsibility to managing director Lee Charnley as the hunt for Alan Pardew’s successor heats up.

While there is a certain degree of uncertainty right now, there are couple of certainties that Newcastle supporters can expect from the club’s next appointment, if recent form is anything to go by.

There is a reason why the club is being linked with largely unemployed bosses, such as Remi Garde, Tim Sherwood and Thomas Tuchel. Ashley has never paid compensation for a manager during his eight years at the helm, and it remains to be seen whether he will start now.

There is a very real possibility that John Carver will be afforded the responsibility of leading Newcastle for the rest of the season, but for the long-term, his chances are remote.

Kevin Keegan: January 2008 - September 2008
Verdict: Miss

Having ingratiated himself with supporters through some sickly-sweet publicity ploys, including sitting with the fans during matches, Ashley went a step further to becoming one of the boys by appointing one of the most popular bosses in St James’ Park history.

With a beleaguered and rudderless Newcastle having been shot down by six goals at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson’s former foe Kevin Keegan was swiftly appointed despite an absence of three years from the game.

There was to be no honeymoon period for King Kev, as the confidence-shot side failed to win any of his first eight league games. However, a switch to 4-3-3 allowed Michael Owen to flourish in a deeper role behind Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins. Four wins from their final eight games preserved their top-flight status for another year.

The relief was short-lived, though, as supporters quickly learned Ashley’s true identity. With the entourage of Dennis Wise and Derek Llambias interfering in transfer matters, Keegan grew frustrated and walked out after three games of the following season.

Joe Kinnear: October 2008 - April 2009
Verdict: Miss

If the decision to replace Keegan with Joe Kinnear as an interim boss seemed a strange one after four years in the wilderness, his first press conference only served to confirm the bizarre nature of the appointment.

A string of expletives were hurled at a number of journalists who he felt had undermined him during his first week. Subsequently, he would only conduct interviews with local newspapers, instantly alienating the national media in the process.

Kinnear won just five games during his six months in charge, while falling out with members of the first-team, and his time at the club was curtailed by the announcement he would need a heart bypass operation in February.

Alan Shearer: April 2009 - May 2009
Verdict: Miss

Newcastle’s third managerial appointment of a desperate season, perhaps it was fitting that the final one was announced on April Fool’s Day. Having been linked with the managerial hot seat since he was on the cusp of retirement, the record goalscorer was drafted in as manager for the final eight games of the season as the Magpies battled the drop. While the 38-year-old insisted that his spell was only for the short-term, you would be hard pressed to find somebody who genuinely believed that the Geordie hero didn’t want it full-time.

However, the mission to inject some passion and self-belief into a beleaguered side proved too difficult, and he amassed just five points from a potential 24 as the club’s 16 year stay in the top-flight came to a sorry end.

Chris Hughton: May 2009 - December 2010
Verdict: Hit

During the summer of 2009, Shearer was expected to lead the promotion charge for the upcoming season in the Championship. However, the deal fell through and Ashley instead plumped for assistant boss Chris Hughton, much to the confusion of Newcastle supporters.

The 50-year-old proved to be a popular figure at St James’ Park, however, leading the club to the Championship title in style with 102 points. The reinvigorated side would begin life back in the Premier League with a bang, hitting Aston Villa for six and recording a famous 5-1 victory in the Tyne-Wear derby.

His sacking in early December, with the club lying in 11th position, once again incensed supporters, who felt the decision was wholly unjust.

Alan Pardew: December 2010 - December 2014
Verdict: Hit

The Londoner was never going to find it easy to settle at St James’ Park. He was seen as the new step-father in a messy divorce that saw Hughton ousted without a moment’s thought.

Pardew was the longest-serving manager on Tyneside in the last decade, and there must be good reason for that. It has never been easy for the former Southampton boss, as he has been forced to work under the tightest of financial constraints.

With Ashley doing well to keep a low profile, Pardew has instead bore the brunt of fans’ frustrations. Ugly disputes and clashes with officials, managers and players have embarrassed supporters, and his stubborn tactics often left them mumbling in disapproval all the way home. But overall, the man did a good job.

Finishing his first season in 12th position did nothing to signal that he was an improvement on Hughton, but his first full season’s finish of fifth and two Manager of the Year Awards had supporters singing his praises.

His reward of an eight-year contract extension was met with scepticism, however. Juggling a small squad and the perils of Europa League, Newcastle almost became embroiled in a relegation scrap and finished in 16th. The following season’s finish of tenth was better, but their record of 15 losses in their final 21 competitive sent dissenting voices from the stands and protests into overdrive.