According to multiple reports out of the UK — first reported by The Northern Echo — Newcastle United officials have begun formal negotiations with former Arsenal player and recent Lyon manager Remi Garde regarding Newcastle’s current managerial vacancy.
Garde, 48, left Lyon following a largely successful three-year spell (51-percent win percentage, average finishing position of fourth) as first-team manager. The Frenchman originally planned to take a full season off following his departure from Lyon, but recently confirmed his desire to take the reins at Newcastle, even submitting to club owner Mike Ashley’s managerial structure which will see the club’s new boss have very little say regarding both incoming and outgoing transfer dealings.
[ RELATED: Alan Pardew slams Newcastle players, says he had to fine them “every 42 minutes” ]
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood is reportedly a strong candidate should Garde and Newcastle fail to agree a deal, but the 45-year-old Englishman seems to be a clear fallback option at this point. Championship managers Steve McClaren and Eddie Howe ruled themselves out of the running this week, as did Saint-Etienne manager Christophe Galtier.
Curent interim manager John Carver is reported to have said a permanent resolution needs to be found sooner rather than later, as he believes a continued lack of clarity could be detrimental to the club’s first-team performances. Carver has reportedly been told he’ll remain in charge of the first team for the entirety of this coming week and lead the team into its league matchup with Southampton next Saturday (Watch live on NBC and online via Live Extra, 12:30 pm ET).
[ FULL RECAP: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle in Carver’s first PL game in charge ]
After Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, Carver said: “I still have not had a conversation with Mike. [Managing director Lee Charnley] said to me look after the game against Chelsea and possibly Southampton next week.”