Sun 24th May - Villa Park
By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 31st December 2007
Mort: Backing for Allardyce
Newcastle chairman Chris Mort has moved to reject the speculation over Sam Allardyce's future.
Mort insists the Magpies are not actively recruiting a replacement for the under-pressure Allardyce.
Allardyce has found himself in the spotlight once again after a run of poor results which has brought the club just one point from a possible nine over the Christmas period.
The likes of Alan Shearer and Martin Jol have been mentioned as possible replacements for Allardyce, but Mort has rubbished the rumours.
"All this makes me laugh and I find all this speculation tedious," said Mort.
"There is a different name every week and there is just no truth in it."

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 11th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Shamrock vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 12:30 | Darlington vs Newcastle |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Huddersfield vs Newcastle |
| Sunday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 14:30 | FC Utrecht vs Newcastle |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Leeds |
| Sunday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Dundee Utd vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 17:30 | West Brom vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 17:20 | Newcastle vs Reading |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Sheff Wed |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Newcastle |
| Monday 31st August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Leicester |
| Sunday 13th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 14:05 | Cardiff vs Newcastle |
| Wednesday 16th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Blackpool vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Plymouth |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 17:30 | Ipswich vs Newcastle |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs QPR |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Bristol City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Monday 11th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 3 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Monday 27th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 19th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 1st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Sunday 22nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 0 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Brom 2 - 3 Newcastle | |
| Sunday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 28th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Saturday 3rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Leicester City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Peterborough United | 0 | 0 |
Ex-Newcastle striker Mark Viduka is weighing up offers from two Premier League clubs, according to his agent
Michael Owen believes Alan Shearer is the man to lead Newcastle United back to the Premier League.
Former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear says he has been given the thumbs-up to return to football management.
Michael Owen is eager to put his "poor spell" at Newcastle behind him by scoring goals and lifting silverware at his new club Man United.
Joe Kinnear has backed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to get the best out of Michael Owen.