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Fabricio Coloccini tells Newcastle United he does not want to take over as boss if Alan Pardew leaves

Defender had support within the club because of his strong relationship with club owner Mike Ashley

Martin Hardy
Tuesday 30 December 2014 11:34 GMT
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Fabricio Coloccini has told Newcastle bosses he does not want to take over as the next Newcastle boss if Alan Pardew leaves
Fabricio Coloccini has told Newcastle bosses he does not want to take over as the next Newcastle boss if Alan Pardew leaves (Getty Images)

Fabricio Coloccini has told Newcastle bosses he does not want to take over as the next Magpies boss if Alan Pardew completes his move to Crystal Palace.

Coloccini had support within the club because of his strong relationship with the club owner Mike Ashley. He also has the full respect of the Newcastle dressing room and would have been a seamless replacement with Newcastle currently 10th in the Premier League.

However I understand the Argentinian has met club bosses on Tuesday morning to say he is not interested in taking over from Alan Pardew.

That means Newcastle will have to start a new search following the shock departure of Pardew.

Alan Pardew has his work cut out at Crystal Palace (GETTY IMAGES)

A compensation package in excess of £2m has been agreed by Ashley and the Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish with Pardew and his representatives in talks over a four-year deal to take control at Selhurst Park.

The speed of the departure of Pardew has caught Ashley, currently holidaying in Barbados, by surprise.

He had stood by Pardew during an appalling run in the Premier League when Newcastle won just two of their previous 17 top flight games. Ashley had thought that would cement his position as manager, especially after he picked up November's manager of the month award on the back of the show of loyalty.

However Pardew has been offered full control of recruitment at Palace, something he was always on the periphery at during his time with Newcastle. He wanted a centre back and a renowned centre forward in the summer and got neither.

Ashley has an excellent relationship with Coloccini and the defender, who turns 33 this month, would have been a safe pair of hands to turn to, with concerns at the club about a major upheaval in mid season.

Coloccini however has said he is not ready for management and does want to be involved at managerial level in the aftermath of Pardew's departure.

He has two years left on his contract and he wants to continue as player and captain only.

John Carver and Steve Stone are expected to take charge of Newcastle's next game, against Burnley on New Year's Day, if no appointment is made before then.

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