I’ve just done an interview with the Footy Fans Down Under boys and here is the transcript.


From the Terraces – Newcastle Utd 2010
With Newcastle today gaining promotion back into the Premier League we thought it would be a great idea to seek out the views from the Newcastle fans who have again stood by their team in great numbers and can at last enjoy their moment of glory.

Answering our questions was Andrew McTernan who runs the Australian based website http://www.aussiemags.net

- Are Newcastle fans treating this as a success or the end of a dreadful period?

Getting promoted at the first attempt is a tremendous achievement, and I think it is only fair to the players and Chris Hugton that we treat this as a success, but in the back of all of our minds you do feel the whole scenario was totally avoidable. However, success doesn’t often come along on Tyneside so we’ll milk this all we can. I have no doubt the city will be buzzing all summer now!

- Very few teams actually bounce back up to the EPL, why do you feel Newcastle achieved this at the first attempt?

The way Chris Hughton and his management team have gone about their business has been first class. They haven’t made any silly comments in the press, they have just got on with the job of rebuilding the club.And obviously full credit to the senior players, the players who have stuck around have shown real character and desire to write a few wrongs.

- Did you ever fear you could end up in a Leeds like situation?

Totally! As it happens I was in Dublin for our first pre-season game against Shamrock Rovers and we were extremely average, and then only a couple of weeks later we lost 6-1 to Leyton Orient. So the alarm bells were ringing for every single fan before the start of the season. Nobody had any confidence of where we were going, the club was up for sale, we had a caretaker manager in charge and a group of players who the vast majority had got us relegated.

- With the ship being settled has your view on Mike Ashley changed at all?

The fact that I still don’t trust Mike Ashley means I have to say no it hasn’t changed really. Derek Llambias and Ashley have shown real contempt with their handling of the supporters throughout their rein at the club, putting the naming rights of St James Park up for sale last year shows how far removed they are from the fans still.All I can hope for is that Mike Ashley has learned from his mistakes and that next season he realises he will need to spend some money on the squad if he wants the club to move forward. I don’t expect any Hollywood signings just some sensible signings that will improve the current squad.One final thing on Mike Ashley, he has been extremely lucky to have bought into a football club where the fans love of their club and city will always remain strong regardless of what happens.

- Chris Hughton has done a tremendous job, do you think he should have been appointed last season and how do you think hell go next season?

In hindsight yes possibly, but his record as caretaker last season was appalling, that was probably more down to the group of players he had mind. Anybody would have been better than that joker Joe Kinnear though!As for next season I think Hughton will do ok. He has earned the right to give it a crack and he has certainly won the respect of the dressing room, Shola Ameobi said last week that the team spirit is the best its been since the Sir Bobby Robson years, which says a lot.Whether his tactics can stand up against the quality of the Premiership opposition is the real test though, but you get the feeling he is learning all the time and hell be fully aware of that hell needs to do to rectify that.

- Is the current squad capable of a solid season in the EPL or would you like to see some strengthening?

The bottom half of the Premier League doesn’t seem to be as strong these days, so I think we have a realistic chance to finish anywhere from 10th to 20th next season, but without a doubt we need to strengthen in key areas.Our defence has been excellent this year, but we are short of numbers at the back so a proven defender or two would need to come in.Nicky Butt will be leaving us and you’d have to question Alan Smiths ability to step back up, so another centre midfield player is required to bolster the squad. So too a winger, whilst Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez have been in fine form of late we do lack cover in both wide areas.Despite plenty of goals from Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands, and Shola Ameobi this season, a proven Premiership striker who can get you 15 goals would have to be a consideration.

- Hopes for next year, European spot maybe?

Europe!?! Ill happily eat my words but we’ve got no chance sadly, we need to build some stability for a good couple of seasons before we even look that far up the table.

Read the full interview