STEVE McCLAREN has told Newcastle United he would like to take over at St James’ Park and expects to learn if his bid has been successful within the next week.

The former Middlesbrough boss is out of the country on holiday but is keeping up to date with events on Tyneside, where it emerged yesterday Patrick Vieira is no longer in the running for the job.

That has paved the way for McClaren to take over from John Carver, who was due to have further discussions about his future with managing director Lee Charnley yesterday, although Newcastle have not rushed into offering the ex-England coach the post at this stage.

The 54-year-old is keen to get back into football as quickly as he can after leaving Derby County and is thought to be excited about the possibility of taking over the Magpies and working to the structure in place.

He has a good relationship with chief scout Graham Carr and is confident they can strike up a strong working partnership, with the head coach responsible for getting the best out of the players Carr targets.

Newcastle have been keen to explore different options, which has led to contact with Vieira’s representatives, but the mere fact McClaren was offered the chance to succeed Alan Pardew on two separate occasions since the turn of the year highlights how highly he is regarded at St James’.

The big difference now is that McClaren is available, having been under contract at Derby until he was sacked following a dip in form which coincided with all the Newcastle talk.

Former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee thinks it will be difficult to find a long line of suitable contenders willing to work in the sporting director model which owner Mike Ashley has put in place, appearing to strengthen McClaren’s arm.

“Because of the policy of the club, if somebody else is bringing in the players, then big name managers will not accept that. Big name managers know players and will want to bring players with them,” said Lee.

“Everyone wants to keep telling me it works on the continent. But if they are top, top managers then they will have a say. (Jose) Mourinho would not accept not having a say. At the end of the day a manager will get the blame if the results aren’t right, so you would want a say.

“You can only make a team so much better. We need somebody who can attract players to this club. We are a club that almost got relegated. We need nine or ten players to be competitive in the Premier League.”

While McClaren has always been at the forefront of Newcastle’s thinking since the turn of the year, the prospect of former Arsenal midfielder Vieira being handed the job caused excitement.

But the Frenchman, who has offers from abroad as well as a keenness from Manchester City to keep him as Under-21s elite development manager, is out of the running despite tentative discussions over the phone with his representatives. Formal talks have not taken place.

Lee, speaking at the Gary Speed Memorial Day at Ramside Hall, was not sure if he was the right man for the job anyway. He said: “Who knows, Patrick was a great player, a fantastic player. Sometimes great players don’t make great managers.

“He has been with Manchester City’s Under-21s, he is an unknown quantity. I am not sure Patrick would accept somebody else bringing in players. I think Patrick would want a say and if he doesn’t get that then I don’t think he would come.”

Newcastle have other candidates to turn to if a deal for McClaren breaks down. Former Swansea boss Michael Laudrup and Middlesbrough’s Aitor Karanka are known to have been mentioned as possible targets.

It is also unclear at this stage where Carver fits in. Following his discussions with Charnley, it is likely that moves will be stepped up to fill the head coach role, with Carver likely to be kept on in some capacity.

The uncertainty has not affected midfielder Moussa Sissoko too much. The France international has indicated he is in no rush to leave the North-East, even though he is aware of apparent interest in him from Chelsea and a desire to play in the Champions League.

Sissoko, signed for just £1.8m from Toulouse, said: “Is he (Jose Mourinho) following me? According to what I hear, yes. He’s one of the best coaches in the world. He has won so many trophies. Any player would like to be coached by him.

“For the moment, I’m coached by other people. If I had the chance to play under him one day, I would be very happy.”

He added: “For the moment, I’m still at Newcastle and I feel good there. There’s no problem. Having said that, you’re never certain of what might happen. If I have to leave, the French national team will come into my thinking. I’ll make the right choice.”