Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder has confirmed that Bryan Klug is a contender to take over the running of the Magpies academy. TWTD broke the news of the Premiership club's interest in Town's youth chief on Tuesday.

Roeder says Klug is very much under consideration: "We have compiled a shortlist of names for the new academy manager but nobody has been interviewed or been asked to be interviewed.

"But Bryan Klug is the type of academy manager we are looking for and he may be one of three or four on our shortlist."

Klug currently fills a similar role with the Blues but could move into a director of football position if Jim Magilton is named manager.

The duo look increasingly likely to be handed control of the club next week with few other candidates remaining in the frame, Colin Calderwood joining Nottingham Forest and permission to speak to Southend manager Steve Tilson being refused. Reports linking Doncaster boss Dave Penney appear to be without foundation.

Magilton is away on holiday in Spain this week, the duo having been interviewed for a second time at Portman Road last Friday, and it could be that an official announcement of their appointment is made on his return next week.

West Brom assistant manager Nigel Pearson was also interviewed a second time last Thursday but, despite being chairman David Sheepshanks's favoured candidate, failed to impress in front of the wider board, Sheepshanks and chief executive Derek Bowden having conducted the initial interviews.

The other contenders yet to be formally ruled out are Joe Royle's assistant Willie Donachie and on-gardening-leave QPR boss Ian Holloway. Neither seems likely to be given the nod ahead of Magilton and Klug, despite the former skipper's lack of management experience.

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