Clark loses friends but influences people

Friday brought interesting news from Birmingham, Lee Clark's Championship strugglers having parted company with fellow former Toon employees Terry McDermott and Derek Fazackerley. The circumstances surrounding the pair's departure remain unclear, Clark insisting they hadn't been sacked but claiming to be unable to add any further information "for legal reasons". The Blues are currently such a basket-case of a club that one wonders if they've been released as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Clark can still count on the assistance of another ex-Newcastle man, his former team-mate Steve Watson, in the role of first-team coach, but no longer appears to have any time for the player he currently has on loan from St James' Park. Fergie was once again missing from the squad on Saturday, but given that Clark inspired them to a 2-1 victory at freefalling Blackpool, it seems unlikely he'll be back in favour soon. A real shame, especially in view of the positive loan experiences of players like James Tavernier and Conor Newton, both of whom have been able to enhance their claims for involvement with the first team on their return to Tyneside.

Fergie's got the Blues

Another loan departure, and this time it's Shane Ferguson off to try his luck in the Championship with struggling, cash-strapped Birmingham, where he'll be lining up with no fewer than four ex-Toon players (Darren Ambrose, Steve Caldwell, Peter Lovenkrands and captain Stephen Carr).

The move also reunites the Northern Irishman with Lee Clark, one of his first coaches upon arriving at St James' Park. The Blues manager has apparently been pursuing Fergie for a while now, and is hoping he'll hit the ground running: "I think he will be a big favourite with the supporters."

For his part, the winger is already talking about the possibility of the loan deal extending beyond this initial month. First things first, Fergie - get yourself in the team and then you can try to impress.

Not-so-handy Andy

Incredible, isn't it, that managers should already be finding themselves handed their P45s. First to go was Toon old boy Andy Thorn, given the boot by Coventry. The Sky Blues were unbeaten under Thorn, though they did surrender leads to record draws in their three league fixtures.

Thorn generally comes across as glum and unenthusiastic in interviews (hardly positive attributes in someone who is supposed to inspire), but you have to wonder why the board were prepared to stand by the man who took the club down to League One and allow him the summer to try reshaping the squad, only to sack him four games into the season. The new man (who, if the Coventry board have even a shred of common sense, won't be the Poison Dwarf) will inherit Thorn's squad with no opportunity to make adjustments and additions of his own until January.

Incidentally, a Thorn-less Coventry defeated Championship outfit Birmingham in the League Cup to put more pressure on Lee Clark. His side have suffered a poor start to the campaign, picking up just one point in the league since the Cup thrashing of Barnet. Clark was downcast after Saturday's loss at Watford, demanding better performances from those he's brought in, and while Darren Ambrose helped Peter Lovenkrands to give Blues the lead at the Ricoh, it wasn't enough and his mood certainly won't have improved.

Loven the first degree for Clarkie

Best of luck to Peter Lovenkrands, who has joined Birmingham following his departure from St James' Park. The Dane - Lee Clark's first signing since being appointed Blues manager - may now be 32 and lacking the sort of pace he had when marauding down the flanks at Rangers, but he retains a reasonable eye for goal and a canny footballing brain and so should still have plenty to offer at Championship level. And, if Raylor's to be believed, plenty to offer his new teammates from his washbag, too.

Another story on the BBC site to catch my eye today concerned Junior Hoilett, out of contract at Blackburn. Steve Kean is likely to be disappointed if he thinks the winger-cum-striker will stay on at Ewood Park, but if Hoilett is to leave then it's worth noting that compensation will be required due to his age. We were repeatedly linked with a move for the Canadian earlier in the year, but the trail has gone strangely cold over recent months. Might we perhaps now be hoping that the sale of Leon O'Best will help to curry favour if, as I anticipate, any move for Hoilett quickly descends into a bunfight between a clutch of rival clubs?

Out with the old (boy), in with the old (boy)

Congratulations to Lee Clark, back in work at Birmingham following his sacking by Huddersfield in February. He's stepped into the shoes of ex-Toon boss Chris Hughton, who left to join Norwich, and has wasted no time installing his familiar backroom team of Terry Mac and Derek Fazackerley.

Clark inherits a difficult situation at St Andrews, with Blues having been placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League for failing to submit their accounts on time. Jordan Mutch has already been sold off to raise funds, Ben Foster looks to be on his way to West Midlands rivals West Brom, and Nathan Redmond, Jack Butland and Curtis Davies are all potentially bankable assets. Clark faces a tough task in trying to repeat Hughton's feat of a play-off berth - perhaps a season of consolidation both on and off the pitch is a more realistic target.

Update: It seems the news of Clark's appointment was broken in a rather unusual way...

Peer review reaps rewards for the Silver Fox

Our Champions League challenge may have gone up in smoke on Sunday (Paul's match report to come), but the awards just keep on coming for the Silver Fox. First he was named as the Premier League's manager of the year, and now he's scooped the LMA's annual prize - which is arguably more significant as it's a reflection of the respect and admiration of his peers. Credit to him, too, for modestly refusing to celebrate the plaudit as a personal triumph: "This award is not just for me. Everything we have achieved has been achieved as a result of an incredible team effort. The board, my coaching staff, backroom team, players and our magnificent supporters - they all play a crucial role and I thank every one of them".

One interesting footnote was the LMA Special Merit Award given to Lee Clark, our old boy currently out of work since being given the boot by Huddersfield. His old side reached the League 1 play-off final tonight, though MK Dons ran them very close in the end, one Alan Smith scoring an injury-time goal to set up a nervy finish.

Lee let go

Well, I didn't see this coming. And neither did Lee Clark, by the sounds of it: "I am very perplexed as to why I was dismissed as manager of Huddersfield". Given Huddersfield's form and position in the league, the sacking can only have been down to behind-the-scenes friction with the board. With Leeds currently managerless and Leicester's owners rumoured to have an itchy trigger finger, I wonder whether the Terriers' hierarchy's decision could be to a Championship club's benefit?

Update

Following on from Terriers fan David's comment to this post, here are the thoughts of seasoned Huddersfield observer John Dobson. So, Town supporters, maybe we're ill-informed and there was more to it than met the eye, and therefore we're wrong to be bemused by the board's decision - but all I'll add is be careful what you wish for...

Zog on the Tyne - again?

Those Zog-back-to-Toon rumours just won't go away, will they? Having had a very last-minute bid rebuffed in January, it seems we're still eager to reunite the moody Frenchman with a black and white shirt.

Given the manner of his departure, he would be unlikely to be welcomed back with much enthusiasm. However, he's clearly blossomed into a better player at the DW Stadium - Wigan would already have been long condemned to a Championship future were it not for his critical contributions, the latest being a brace in the victory that relegated West Ham - and I'm sure Jabba would relish the opportunity to get one over on his old foe Dave Whelan. Even if the Latics don't go down, though, it'll be an almighty bun-fight that we're unlikely to win.

As for the Hammers, the bookies' favourite to replace Avram Grant and try to get them back into the Premier League is a familiar face. Good luck Chris.

Also on the subject of old boys, congratulations to Lee Clark's Huddersfield, who last night secured themselves a place in the League One play-off final by beating Bournemouth on penalties. That's now a stunning 27 games unbeaten for the Terriers, who will face free-scoring, leaky-defenced Peterborough in the Old Trafford showdown.