The interim manager of Newcastle United, Graeme Jones wants to meet with the club’s new owners after the Premier League game against Chelsea.
Chelsea football club will visit St. James Park later today, October 30, 2021, to play their 10th Premier League game of the season. The game against Newcastle United will kick off at 15:00.
Unfortunately for Graeme Jones who became the caretaker coach of Newcastle United after the club sacked Steve Bruce earlier in October, he would be tested against the Premier League table-toppers in the presence of his club’s home fans.
Recall that about two weeks after a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium took over Newcastle, the new owners who are worth over £320 million bowed to pressure by sacking coach Bruce. The belief was that Bruce would not be able to lead the club under the reign of the financially buoyant owners.
As it stands, if Newcastle United manage to beat Chelsea later today, it would be the first time this season that the club would achieve such a feat. Recall that before Bruce was sacked, the English tactician led Newcastle to record 3 draws, 4 defeats, and zero wins.
Bruce’s last game in charge of the club was a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur which ended in a 2-3 home defeat.
When Graeme Jones became the coach of the club, his first assignment was to play against Crystal Palace on October 23. The 51-year-old English tactician managed to get a draw from the away game.
In a pre-match press conference, Jones who is expected to end his managerial role at Newcastle immediately after the club finds a permanent coach said he would discuss with the club’s new owners to get the club’s situation report.
The former Luton Town manager made it clear that his assignment at Newcastle was to unite the club ahead of the arrival of a permanent coach.
Coach Graeme Jones said: “I’ll have a chat with the owners and see where we are. No more than that and take it from there.
“I think our job here, right now, is to make this football club as united as it possibly can be for the next manager that’s coming.
“We’re a point better off than last week and obviously after tomorrow’s game we’ll see where we are, but the new guy needs to walk into a really healthy football club.
“With 52,000 people, plus 20 players and staff pulling in the same direction and that’s my target.”
Graeme Jones did not play for Newcastle United during his playing days but has an emotional connection with the club because the club is located in his hometown.
Ahead of his first home game in charge of the club, Jones stressed that he would do his job at St. James’ Park with less emotion.
He said: “There’s a lot of responsibility. Honestly, you can’t go there with the emotions. Yes, it’s my football club, the first game at St James’ Park, but I’ve got a job to do and I’ve got to do it to the best of my ability.
“So I haven’t thought about that. I’m thinking purely about the game and nothing more.
“What happens between now and January 1 is going to define our season and it would be remiss of me if I didn’t concentrate on the Chelsea game.
“We’ve got the Champions League winners coming here, so I’ve not thought about anything else.”
On whether a victory over Chelsea could make him a contender for Newcastle United permanent coaching job, Jones said: “If we beat Chelsea I’ll probably open a bottle of red wine with my wife and celebrate.
“It would be a huge moment, but I’m sorry to be boring, I’m not looking past that.
“My remit is just for Chelsea and I want to help my football club be in the best position we can be in.”
🗣️ "The new guy needs to walk into a really healthy football club." #NUFC interim manager Graeme Jones says he will discuss what happens next at the club with the new owners after the Chelsea game tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/zFp4JlIvPJ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 29, 2021
