Okon could follow Venables to Newcastle

Former Leeds United and Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Okon could be the first target for Terry Venables, when he heads to Australia to coach Newcastle in the new national league.

Newcastle’s football operations director Remo Nogarotto, who clinched the deal with Venables, likened the appointment to dropping a massive boulder in a small pond in a town that has a dominant rugby league culture.

“It will create big waves,” Nogarotto told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

“I am very confident Terry’s appointment will entice some of our overseas players back. We’ve already spoken about (former Socceroos captain) Paul Okon coming home on the back of Terry’s appointment.”

The club’s owner Con Constantine said Venables’ arrival was dependent on the timing of the new competition.

“We’ve got him for a season and we’ll take it from there,” he said.

“We’ve seen what Greece did with a German coach (Otto Rehhagel). Now you’ll see what we (Newcastle) can achieve with Venables; he’s a class act.”