Premier League: Tony Cascarino backs Christophe Galtier for next Newcastle United manager

Tony Cascarino says Saint-Etienne head coach Christophe Galtier would be the ideal replacement for Alan Pardew at Newcastle United.

The Magpies have been on the hunt for a new manager after Pardew left St James’ Park last week to take over at Crystal Palace.

Sky sources reported on Sunday that Galtier is one of the names under consideration, although he has indicated that he will not walk out on his current employers this season.

Galtier has been in charge at Saint-Etienne since 2009 and played alongside Cascarino at Marseille between 1995-97.

Saint-Etienne are currently fourth in Ligue 1 and they have spent virtually nothing... he (Galtier) has done very well there.

“He has done brilliantly as manager at Saint-Etienne,” Cascarino told Sky Sports News HQ. "He fits into Newcastle’s plan really: they have bought lots of French players and then sold them for big profits.

“And if they were looking down that road, then he would certainly be someone they would be looking at.

“Saint-Etienne are currently fourth in Ligue 1 and they have spent virtually nothing in the last transfer window, so they are a club that uses their academy and the loan market and he has done very well there.”

Since taking over as Saint-Etienne manager, Galtier has gradually led the club up the Ligue 1 table, finishing fifth in 2012/13 and fourth in 2013/14.

They also won the French League Cup in 2013 and are only five points behind current leaders Marseille.