Ex-NUFC boss claims 30/1 outsider would now "jump at the chance" if offered Toon job

Sam Allardyce believes Chelsea legend Frank Lampard would “jump” at the chance of managing Newcastle.

A report in The Telegraph last week claimed the former Derby manager was on the radar of our new owners, but that talk has since cooled.

Lampard is currently 30/1 with Betfair to replace Steve Bruce in the hot seat at St James’ Park, with Eddie Howe now the firm favourite and tipped to be appointed over the weekend.

He has been out of work since being brutally sacked by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, a move that has since turned into a master stroke due to the success of Thomas Tuchel.

Allardyce, the first man to work under Mike Ashley following his takeover at Newcastle back in 2007, claims Lampard would be a good fit for us, insisting there is “not a better place” for him to go if he wants to return to management.

This is what Big Sam said while speaking to talkSPORT:

“Frank [Lampard], would jump at the chance.

“He’s rested, gained the experience from Derby for Newcastle, his first season at Chelsea, with very tight restrictions, got them to the Champions League. 

“Then when they spent the money and they didn’t gel, he was gone.

“If the club has got money, there’s not a better place for Frank than to take Newcastle on.

“Maybe that might be the owners’ view and it would be nice to see a British manager taking over any Premier League club.”

Allardyce also dismissed suggestions of Lampard’s old England teammate Steven Gerrard taking the job, pointing towards our precarious league position as a cause for concern.

The Rangers boss is on course to win his second league title in Scotland, with many believing Gerrard to be heir apparent to Jurgen Klopp’s throne at Liverpool.

“I don’t think Steven [Gerrard], at this stage, will leave Rangers where they are, top of the league and winning every week, to fight at the bottom of the Premier League.

“The Premier League is a massive and exciting league that everybody wants to manage in. I would presume he would want to get here someday.

“At the moment, the Newcastle job is a massive one, but why leave Rangers who are winning every week to challenge yourself with the trials and tribulations of Newcastle?

“Even though they have got plenty of money to spend, they can’t spend it that quick because of Financial Fair Play.”