Newcastle-Online.com asked you lot to write in with your views on who you would like to see succeed Graeme Souness as Newcastle’s next manager, part one of your views are published below.

I wouldn’t mind Hitzfeld but would prefer Martin O’Neill to be honest, he has the same heart on his sleeve passion not seen since Special K left us in 1997. - Billy Tray

I want Newcastle to bring in out of favour manager Ottmar Hitzfeld… He did great things in Germany! But if the board are to bring in a British manager, I’d like to have Martin O’Neill. Simply because of his managing and tactical skills in which he showed during his time at Celtic! Howay the lads! Cheers from Norway - Lars

Hitzfeld is the man for the job. - Dave Stubbs

Ottmar Hitzfeld. Professional, professional, professional. Three qualities we have lacked for years. He’ll sort out this shambles of a club from top to bottom. May the fat, rich ineffective one look nowhere else and sit outside Hitzfeld’s front door in the rain and snow until he agrees to come to the Toon. - Bill

Martin O’Neill would be most fans favourites I’d say… But it’s got to be Hitzfeld, the man has it all. Read up on him. It so can’t be fat Sam! No Euro pedigree. No idea what to do with more than £3mill for a player either. If Bruce comes, Im jumping ship & following golf. - Tim

I have a mate who is half German and he raves about Hitzfeld as a tactician and man-manager. If the Toon is going high profile then I think he is the only one to go for. - Scottie

As an exiled Geordie, I just hope they get it right this time which means someone with a REAL track record of winning things with big clubs or making journeymen clubs into strong Premiership clubs. That means Allerdyce, O’Neill, Hitzfield or Hiddink. BUT NOT Bruce even if he is a (failed) Geordie. - Ray Mossom

Go for Big Phil Scolari. Bring back attacking football to the Toon!!! - Joe

Martin O’Neil for me, but can we get him? I doubt it. And would the fans give him time? God help the next manager who gets it wrong. - Paul Anderson

I think it is important that the next NUFC manager has a good track record in European competitions. It isn’t just about getting the team into Europe, it’s also about making sure they perform well in these competitions. - Hugo

I echo N.O’s views on Ottmar Hitzfeld. He is the outstanding candidate, get him hired Freddy! - Steve

Out of the names we are being linked with I would say: Hitzfeld = 10/10. O’Neill = 9/10. Hiddink = 8/10. Eriksson = 8/10. Allardyce = 7/10. Scolari = 7.5/10. Le Guen = 6/10. Keegan = 6/10. Jewell = 5/10. I would be delighted with old Ottmar! - Luke

It has to be Hiddink, Hitzfeld or O’Neill. The rest are not up to the standard of NUFC. - Dave

OTTMAR HITZFELD FOR TOON! Why won’t the fat pieman see the light and quit wasting with British managers that are either just no better than what we had or don’t want to be here? Hitzfeld’s reputation speaks for itself and he has proven he can be a success anywhere. - Liam

Ottmar Hitzfeld - without a shadow of a doubt the man to bring discipline, success and develope the younger players. - Marcus Joyce

I would love to see Hitzfeld as the new manager, the guy is a cut above the rest in my opinion. Another manager I wouldn’t say no to either would be Fabio Cappello and there are several others that would be good for our club, but the point is we need someone with a good pedigree for this job. It has to be someone who is in for the long haul, because that’s what it will take. There will be no quick fix for this club. I don’t want to see Alan Shearer as our manager in the long term yet, he needs to ply his trade with minor clubs first to gain experience and to see if he could be a manager, it’s not always the case that a good player makes a good manager. - Garth Hope

It has to be O’Neill - He would build a great side and be our own Cloughie - I think he would build a structure like Liverpool had under Shankly and Paisley. At Celtic he had no money - at Newcastle he could spend on better players, and we’d be better defensively. - Steve

I think Toon fans should forget about Keegan, he did a great job but we need to move on and look to the future. I’d like to see Martin O’Neill at St. James’ Park, he has a great reputation as a motivator, man manager and good tactitian, things Mr Souness sadly lacked. - Chris Ironside

In a similar sense to your opinion I view my ideal choice as Ottmar Hitzfeld. He’s currently not contracted to another club and would surely add to the experience. He’s also foreign, which unlike Shepherd I view as a positive as he maybe able to get the best out of Luque, Emre, Solano, N’Zogbia and dare I say it, Boumsong. The fact he’s won the Champions league with Bayern Munich and has seen it all before regarding pressure of a big club and most importantly a chairman who things he is nufc. He’s also English speaking and his man management skills are second to none. In a similar mould to that of Benitez, Mourinho and Wenger he knows the German transfer market well and could well use it as an untapped resource. This is how these managers have gained such success, in using what they know. Anyway, I hope the majority feel the same and will stand up and be heard on Saturday. - Daniel Wilson

FF has done the easy bit and got rid of Sourmess, now comes the hard part. He has to put away the ‘Geordie Nation’ philosophy and go for a top world manager - if he is as ambitious as he would like us to believe. Hitzfeld is the obvious choice - his record is unquestionable - FF’s record… - Graeme

I think we should get Martin O’Neill in, he clearly did a good job with Celtic lets see how he does for the Toon!! - Daniel James

My first preferance is Paul Le Guen, because not only has he built a great team at Lyon, he also has a reputation of producing attacking teams. I believe this would be appreciated at NUFC and he would be a big hit with the fans. Having said that I’d be extremly pleased with Hitzfield, who’s record is outstanding in world Football. - Hugo Lines

Get Keegan, it will cost us nothing in compensation to any other club and he is the one to motivate all of our players. Did I mention I’ve got £50 on him at 14 to 1, so please Kev, come back soon! - Mike Powell

PLEASE THINK BIG FREDDY! Perfect for the job: 1. Guus Hiddink. 2. Ottmar Hitzfeld. 3. Sven Goran Eriksson. Don’t even think about O’Neill he does not even compare. We MUST go for a respected foreign manager. We cannot afford another mistake like Souness. - James

Martin O’Neil… but Ottmar Hitzfeld would be a great second choice. - Rick

O’Neill not Allardyce please. - Kevin Smith

Bring Hitzfeld in! All the big clubs in Premiership have established foreign managers. It’s time for NUFC to get one! - Toon fan

Ottmar Hitzfield by far… lets have a total class manager who oozes thriumphs in some of Europe’s toughest competitions instead of managers like Graeme Souness whos only achievement recently was the English League cup with BLACKBURN! HAHA, laughable man! - Geordie Hendaz

Got to be Hitzfeld for me. Tactical and successful. Best man for job. Don’t let us get in another fifth choice that the fans won’t want. - Shearer’s Left ‘Un

Ottmar Hitzfeld - Look at the guy’s CV!!!! A proven winner - that’s what we need. - Dix

I wanted Hitzfeld, his record is OUTSTANDING, but as I type O’Neill is being lined up for an interview - another fine manager. If he takes it, I hope some of his Clough training rubs off. - Marky Magpie

For a change, I hope that Freddy Shepherd does act in his own best financial interests. Let him do what will help him fill his pockets even more than he has so far! The next decision he makes, could be a sound financial investment (bring in expert management: Hitzfeld); or another blunder, which could reverse all the good work done to date pre-Souness. - Bad Jack

It has to be HITZFELD! There are no other managers available as good as this guy - but the board won’t get him, because it will mean him controlling the team and the signings. He wouldn’t have Fat Fred interfering that’s for sure, why else do you think the board got Souness? So they could control him and get the players that are likely to sell shirts, and make Freddy’s personal pockets deeper. You don’t think they signed him for his great trophy haul as a manager or his perfect tactics did you?). I have a bad feeling Freddy might appoint a short-term manager until the World Cup has finished in time for Sven to take over. Everyone knows Freddy loves to boast about Newcastle (at the wrong times - not to mention him saying the wrong things).

And you just know he’d love to boast about having a recent ex-England manager at the helm. If there is a God out there: Please! Sven cannot manage, full stop.) On Martin O’Neill, you are having a laff, pure and simple. Souness Part 2, for me. Doing well in the Scottish league doesn’t qualify you to manage in the Premiership in this era - one team to compete against Rangers, hardly the hardest job in the world. He’s an ok manager, but someone to lead Newcastle to trophies? I think not.

On King Kev, in my opinion he’s had his crack of the whip and shouldn’t be allowed a second chance. He left Newcastle United and the club became like a lost child, taking candy from a stranger (Fat Freddy). At the end of the day he had his chance, and couldn’t deliver. On Shearer, he’s not good enough, and anyone that even mentions his name in the same sentence as ‘Newcastle manager’ at this moment in time is taking the p***. He has no mangerial experience. Yes, he is well respected in the dressing room apparently, but that doesn’t make him a good manager. The Premiership has evolved, as Sir Alex has found out. Tactics are crucial to succeed in the Premiership and for me, shearer doesn’t have those skills; at least not at the moment. The fact is that in Hitzfeld we could have a reliable manager that will succeed no matter what, and will not make excuses for his mistakes (as did Souness with his constant talk of injuries).

The question is whether Freddy wants to stop lining his own pockets and interfering in the manager’s transfers, and simply go out, sign Hitzfeld and take Newcastle to a new level. On who ever takes charge: the fans must be patient, support the manager from the off (regardless of who it is) and bring back the atmosphere at SJP again! We say we deserve trophies, yet based on the support Souness was given it doesn’t seem likely that we do. Of course you cannot blame the fans for that, because of the fact that Fat Freddy said he was something like sixth choice. We say we’re the best fans in the world, so why not go out and prove it for once, eh lads and lasses? - Dodds

Look at the best clubs in the Premiership. Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal - all have foreign coaches. Hitzfeld has passion and rules with authority. Please Freddy listen to the fans and appoint this master of the game. - Justin McGuirk

I want Hitzfeld, Freddy! - James

Please Freddy, sign Hitzfeld! - Daniel

When Souness got the boot, I (and I suspect many other Toon fans), initially thought that Martin O’Neill was the only option. Having listened to numerous talk shows and visited various web sites, I have totally changed my mind. Hitzfeld’s credentials are second to none and his stats, either football-wise or financial, match any manager - not just in Europe, but the world. Champion’s League winner, twice, with two different clubs; numerous league and cup trophies and very rarely out of the top three with any club he has managed. Now that’s a manager. PLEASE FREDDY, YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE. IT’S GOT TO BE OTTMAR HITZFELD. - Steve Mac

Newcastle’s next nanager? Ottmar Hitzfeld. - Richard Hopewell

I don’t understand why no-one’s ever mentioned Paul Le Guen of France after Souness being sacked. Paul Le Guen led Lyon to 3 consecutive French Ligue 1 titles. He is young, about the same age as José Mourinho and Rafael Benitez. Lyon under him also had shone in the Champion’s League despite the well-known restrictions that all French clubs face in buying players. The EPL is now inevitably dominated by the two best young coaches in the world, Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho. There is no sign either of them would resign soon and actually both of them have expressed their desire to manage their respective clubs for a long time. Newcastle United, to compete with them, need to recruit a young coach with pedigree as well. After much volatility in recent years, we desperately need a young manager whom we have confidence in to steer our club for a long period of time.

I wholeheartedly agree that it would be a godsend if any of Sven Goran Eriksson, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink, or even Wanderley Luxemburgo is chosen. But none of them are young enough to fight a long battle. I hope your website could also recommend Paul Le Guen. Anyway, I have written to numerous parts of the media re. your petition to install Ottmar Hitzfeld. Hopefully it will get more airing in national and international media from now on. - Eng Wai Ong

I think Hitzfeld is the right man for the Toon, that’s who we should have gone for before that clown Souness. - David Braithwaite

As someone whose lowest league finishing position has been fourth, he should be here already. With his past success, we MUST sign this man. Bring on Ottmar Hitzfeld! - Morgs

I agree that Hitzfeld is the man and have been saying so for a while now. I have a feeling that yet again Shepherd will appoint who he wants and not listen to the fans. The thought of Bruce scares the sh**e out of me. How can we get our views heard? - Alan Rogers

Hitzfeld is the man for the job without doubt. A tactical genius by all accounts, but has the bite to keep trouble makers in line! He demands effort, passion and combined with his tactical know-how he will be a Geordie legend if Fat Fred gets off his arse and does the right thing! If not surely there are three or four other key candidates. Hiddink - impossible until after the World Cup. O’Neill - taking time out. Scolari - another master tactician and motivator. Or, Big Sam - big compensation payment again! How can we get Hitzfeld? Who’s up for a demonstration after the next game!? - Matt Squires

l want Hitzfeld in - he is a good manager and his CV stands out. l’m praying for FF to appoint him - l don’t want any other managers but Ottmar Hitzfeld. - Haroon

I would like to see Martin O’Neill appointed manager, simply because I think he would be better suited to the Premiership style than Hitzfeld. After all we have to get our league form up to scratch before thinking of Europe, to which I think Hitzfeld’s style is slightly better equipped. I also think the players would respond better to O’Neill’s management, not forgetting the level of success he has brought to the clubs he has managed. - Andy Oxley

Hitzfeld is the only candidate for the job - nobody else comes near his credentials. - Steve

Ottmar Hitzfeld! - Stuart Thurlby

Hitzfeld - simple, and not because of this website. Should have been appointed before Souness. FAT FREDDY OUT! He only buys decent players when he knows that the fans are calling for his head, e.g. Owen - so he can put more of the Newcastle fans’ money in his pockets and away from the club. - Dodds

This is a very rare opportunity to secure one of the best in the world for my beloved Newcastle. The man has a proven track record at the very top (2 Champion’s League trophies with two different clubs, many domestic trophies, and twice winner of the World’s Best Club Manager in 1997 & 2001). We cannot afford to let this chance slip. Ottmar Hitzfeld will make Newcastle great once again. In NZ, we used to have the lads live on a regular basis. Under the last bloke (well rid of) he has now relegated us to a 2 or 3 minute stint on the highlights package. We need to get back our profile, our ability to challenge the best and our great name - HITZFELD is the man to do this. - Trev Auckland NZ

I think Hitzfeld should be the one for us to break this curse of underachievement. I really do hope Freddy is going to get it right and appoint Hitzfeld, otherwise I can see us having a few dark years to come. The person I feel sorry for is big Al - what a way to end his black and white life, with the circus that Souness brought to our door. He deserves better, We deserve better. Bring on Ottmar! - Jon

I want O’Neill, Sven, Hiddink or Hitzfeld in charge by the 10th of February. - Brynn

I think if we bring back Keegan he will help the players get back on form. They will have alot of respect for him as he played for the Toon. Also he is a great manager, and i think he will have all the Toon fans behind him. - Cullum

It’s got to be O’Neill, Hitzfeld, or Big Sam, probably in that order of preference. Keegan would be a fantasy, but fantasies are unrealistic. What if KK did come back and did not make it work? I for one would not like to see him publicly embarrassed, as Souness and Bobby were. Play it safe and conservative I’m afraid - O’Neill. - Toon Fan

Now we need the European manager who has a good past record and European experience. Has to be English? I think not; Rafa, Mourinho, Wenger - first time they arrived, did they have Premiership experience? No, and look at them now. So we need Hitzfeld, Le Guen, or O’Neill, no doubt about it. But my prediction is that we will get Sam or Bruce. - Ginkoh

Paul Le Guen. - Magnús

It seems that Hitzfeld has all the qualifications for a top club. There was talk in the papers a few months ago about him going to Man U. For heaven’s sake, if he’s good enough for them surely he’s good enough for us - what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of success? As this man is probably the most able and qualified around, and what’s more he is available. So no compensation to pay to some other club. Use your loaf Freddy, get him signed on or someone else will beat you to it. Don’t forget, if you get it wrong this time it will be your head on the block next time around! The man is a winner and is the people’s choice, look at the polls. Forget Martin O’Neill, what has he done? Yes, Celtic, but hell it’s either them or Rangers - no real competition. No, it’s got to be Hitzfeld for the Toon’s top job. He is his own man and will turn things around this season in preparation for next year! - ArtyH

Thanks to everyone who wrote in, keep them coming.