‘Harry Redknapp can bring feel-good factor back to Newcastle’ – Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce believes Harry Redknapp would be the perfect man to save Newcastle’s season, IF current manager Steve McClaren is sacked.
Reports this week have claimed former England boss McClaren is close to the exit door with the Magpies sitting 19th in the Premier League table after three consecutive defeats.
Their latest came at the hands of relegation rivals Bournemouth, and that might have been the final straw for club bosses, with board members Lee Charnley, Bob Moncur and Graham Carr rumoured to have met on Monday to discuss McClaren's future.
Former Toon defender Pearce, along with ex-midfielder Lee Bowyer, is an advocate of keeping the coach, who he believes has the ability to turn Newcastle’s fortunes around in a promising run of upcoming games.
However, if McClaren does ultimately leave St James’ Park, he claims Redknapp would ‘bring the feel-good factor’ back to the club and is the ideal short-term replacement.
Speaking on the Colin Murray show, talkSPORT regular Pearce said: “If Newcastle want to build the football club and put a manager in for the long-term, I think they should probably go for David Moyes or Brendan Rodgers.
“But if they want instant impact, someone to keep them up between now and the summer, Harry Redknapp is the man.
“I’ve worked with Harry, he offers that real feel-good factor to a player, he makes players feel special, and I think that’s what Newcastle need to get them over the line this season.
“However, I think Newcastle’s upcoming fixtures suggest they can pull away from this situation. They’ve got Sunderland, Norwich, Swansea, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, so the fixtures are there to keep Steve McClaren in place to turn this around.
“I’m not a great lover of sacking managers. I know Steve’s a fantastic coach and they’ve seen fit to make him a part of the board, so why, after less than a year later, then want to move him on as manager? It’s bizarre.”