I don't think the Newcastle job is all that it's cracked up to be.

Yes they have money given their backing. But they are still constrained by the various FFP regulations. They have already admitted that a star asset will need to be sold in the summer.

Having achieved Champions League on the back of some shrewd, Dan Ashworth led purchases, expectation levels are high. However they have failed this season to progress.

If Dougie wants to challenge himself by taking on a more pressurised job, well this is one such. Good luck to him.

But he could stay and be an integral part of something potentially big at Palace...

'' He's left us three times '' etc etc

Old, Ungifted and White

It’s strange - a few years ago brown envelopes and cash bungs were all the rage (think Clough, Venables , Graham to name but three) and the practice was largely condemned.
It sounds that this has been legitimised and it makes me uncomfortable as I see a huge conflict of interest.
I despair of the modern game and business practices surrounding it.
You can accept it as part of the modern game, but don’t complain when you’re paying £60 for a ticket.

I have a day to day desktop calendar featuring "stupid things that they say" and whilst they are mainly American sayings today actually features our own Dougie Freedman who was quoted as saying:-

The chairman Steve had come into the dressing room, and he said three simple words to me: "You're taking training on Monday morning"

A younger Dougie would have jumped ship, but something tells me he was burnt by that Bolton shambles and experience. If he goes, he goes I won’t be losing much sleep over it. Take a pick of who you would want to lamp first, Dougie or Steve Bruce?

The Doog has real talent as a talent spotter, and we do a great job at a top club. He's had a couple of interviews, so he's clearly itchy . Either way, if he stays or goes, it will be an important decision for him and the club

Football Insider saying that he has rejected them. No idea if they have any credibility but very good news if true.

Not only because I assume it would also mean that he's had promises that we can show some ambition in this window.

[Link]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...