Jol in line to replace Hughton

THE football word last night condemned Newcastle’s decision to sack manager Chris Hughton amid speculation Martin Jol will become the next Magpies manager after he left his post as Ajax boss by mutual consent.

Newcastle defender Sol Campbell, League Managers’ Association (LMA) chief executive Richard Bevan, Hughton’s former assistant Colin Calderwood and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp were among those to criticise the decision to axe the hugely popular former Republic of Ireland full-back.

The Magpies announced they had terminated Hughton’s contract in a terse statement yesterday, saying they needed “someone with more experience’’.