PAULO FONSECA is the early frontrunner to succeed Steve Bruce as manager of Newcastle United.

Representatives of the new regime have contacted the former Roma boss and held preliminary discussions, with further talks expected top take place this week.

However, Fonseca is just one of a number of candidates currently under consideration, and Amanda Staveley and her advisors are yet to draw up a formal shortlist following today's decision to dispense with Bruce's services.

Fonseca, a former Portugal international, came close to joining Tottenham this summer, only for talks to collapse, leading Spurs to turn to Nuno Espirito Santo instead.

The 48-year-old has managed clubs in Portugal, Ukraine and Italy, and won the Ukrainian double in all three of his seasons in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk.

He then moved to Roma, and led the Italian side to a seventh-place finish in Serie A and the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they were beaten by Manchester United, before he departed at the end of last season and was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

He is currently out of work, so could potentially move into the Newcastle hotseat relatively quickly without the need for a compensation fee.