Ashley eyes Hughton replacement

NEWCASTLE owner Mike Ashley is stepping up his efforts to find a replacement for sacked manager Chris Hughton before the weekend.

Two days after axing the man who dragged the Magpies back out of the Coca-Cola Championship at the first attempt, club officials are running the rule over a series of potential replacements in the hope of making an appointment within the next 48 hours.

Former Reading, West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew, who was sacked from his latest post at Southampton in August, edged back ahead of Martin Jol in the betting following a surge of support for the Dutchman in the immediate aftermath of his resignation at Ajax on Monday.