By Paul Davidson

I feel I need to write in having read your quite damning appraisal of Terry Venables and although he isn’t at the top of my own list, that would be Celtic’s Martin O’Neill, I can see a level of reasoning behind the idea of bringing in El Tel as a short-term option. An option I’m not dead-set against if it allows for time to pass so that we can bring in the right long-term man for the job.

Many notions have been put forward to build a case as to why our beleaguered Chairman would opt for the “cockney barrow boy”, the “charlatan” as this web site has reveled in labeling him as, but the one overriding notion that seems to escape many people’s attention is that Shepherd’s first choice simply isn’t available yet. That choice I believe (and hope) is Celtic’s Martin O’Neill. I don’t for one minute believe that Alan Shearer is set to take over after this season ends and that El Tel is to be appointed as his “mentor” in the meantime. After all our so-called string pulling Captain today announced that he is too young for the job.

If as I hope and believe, that our first choice option isn’t available just yet, then what is so wrong about bringing in a man who has had success with such a short-term interim job before? With our local rivals Middlesbrough of all clubs.

I seem to remember he stopped the rot and saved them from relegation and although I’m not hinting that we are in such a position, because we aren’t, we never the less need someone to steady a tossing ship. And Terry Venables is exactly the man to come in and bring calm and order to our club. I’d much rather see El Tel in the dugout for a few months if it meant we get our man as it were at the end of the season rather than seeing a 3rd or even 4th choice man brought in simply because our first choice wasn’t available for a few months.

Terry Venables may have his faults and may not be a man of morals and etiquette but his coaching skills can’t be questioned. He has proved at Middlesbrough that he can shape a solid defensive unit with a bunch of misfits, strays and wannabees to work with. What’s to say he can’t do it at Newcastle where, individually, we have a good group of players who just need a man who can organise them and get them playing as a team. He’s available, prepared and experienced to do such a job and if this is what it takes for us to get a man of Martin O’Neill’s calibre to the club who will be a long term answer then by all means bring in El Tel Freddy. I for one would support this.

Regards, Paul Davidson