El Tel to return Down Under

TERRY VENABLES is set to return Down Under after signing a one-year deal to coach Newcastle in the new Australian Premier League.

The former Barcelona, Tottenham, Leeds and England boss has been appointed head coach of the New South Wales side and will oversee recruitment and technical development.

The deal is subject to Newcastle’s likely inclusion in the proposed elite eight-team domestic competition, scheduled to start in July next year.

Venables will visit Newcastle in November when he will launch his preparations by meeting the players and planning for pre-season before moving to Australia next year.

Venables was manager of Australia for their 1998 World Cup campaign where they missed out on the finals in a two-legged play-off against Iran.