New favourite for the NUFC job emerges should Steve Bruce be sacked as odds drop to 4/1

It'll mean absolutely nothing if Mike Ashley doesn't pull the trigger and sack Steve Bruce, but there was some movement with the bookies last night when it comes to a potential replacement.

Moments after our 3-0 defeat at The Emirates, it was revealed that some bookmakers now make Mark Hughes the new 4/1 favourite.

Bournemouth's Eddie Howe had been the leading contender - and remains the most likely successor according to some bookies - however it's the former Man City, Fulham and Stoke boss that is now being tipped to take over on Tyneside.

An uninspiring option to say the least and one who's been jobless for two years (for a very good reason), yet he would probably be an upgrade on Bruce - mainly on the basis it really couldn't get any worse right now!

Hughes has managed seven top 10 finishes with all but two of the six Premier League clubs he has managed, however his most recent spell with Southampton was a bad one - seeing him secure just five victories in 27 games as he was dismissed in December 2018 with a 18.5 win percentage.

Here's his managerial record in full:

Just like he did with McClaren, I expect Ashley to stick with Bruce for as long as we're outside the bottom three - which won't be much longer on last night's evidence!

Hughes in, Bruce out? What a time to be alive.

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