Curbishley in line for Newcastle job

Speculation that David O'Leary could become Newcastle's new boss is wide of the mark, because the man firmly in the frame is Alan Curbishley.

The former Charlton and West Ham manager is represented by First Artists - the same management company that Magpies owner Mike Ashley has used to offload a number of first-team players on big wages, such as Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins.

Ashley trusts First Artists and their chief John Smith implicitly and Smith has been extolling Curbishley's virtues.

Curbishley, in turn, is keen to get back into football and sees Newcastle as a great job - a big team in turmoil which can be turned around with a bit of expert management.

Watch this space...