While Roy Hodgson said that neither he "nor any manager I know" listens to a football phone-in, he would have been interested to hear the comments on the one staged by Liverpool's own television channel. When questioned by supporters, the club's owners, Tom Werner and John W Henry, argued that performances had to improve and added it was realistic to expect the Premier League trophy to come to Anfield "within three to five years".

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson does not fear for his job and is confident owners New England Sports Ventures will back him as he tries to turnaround the club's recent decline.

Gary Speed is poised to be confirmed as the new manager of Wales tomorrow.

Alan Pardew was celebrating a flying start to his life with the Magpies last night but the player who performed the pivotal part in Newcastle United's 3-1 home victory against Liverpool dedicated his man-of-the-match champagne not to the new man in the hot seat at St James' Park but to the manager who was deemed surplus to requirements by the Tyneside club last Monday. Joey Barton, the scorer of Newcastle's second goal and the chief driving force in their first victory in six matches, said his award was a tribute to Chris Hughton.

It is hard to know who has the better chance: poor self-tortured Paul Gascoigne or the poor, abused, betrayed football club he once illuminated with his genius.

Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan has insisted he and his team-mates will move on quickly from the disappointment of losing manager Chris Hughton.

At the end of another scabrous week in the history of Newcastle United, you have to ask the old question. Why do they do it? The fans, that is.