88% Of Newcastle Fans Wanted Patrick Vieira Over Steve McClaren

Newcastle United have ended their interest in bringing Patrick Vieira to St James' Park - despite a staggerling 88% of Toon supporters preferring the Frenchman to Steve McClaren. A whatculture.com/NUFC poll of more than 400 Magpies supporters found that 88% (380 votes) wanted Manchester City Elite Development squad manager Vieira to take over the reins at Newcastle - while just 12% (52 votes) opted for McClaren. Former Arsenal and France midfielder Vieira shot into contention for the Newcastle hotseat over the weekend, and Magpies supporters welcomed the ambition such a move would have shown.

Yet the Magpies look likely to turn to McClaren - who was sacked by Derby County following his failure to lead the club to the Championship play-offs - instead of the Frenchman, who is now out of the running altogether. The appointment of Vieira would have gone some way to repairing the fractured relationship between the club and its supporters. But instead the Magpies appear to have opted for the stable and unexciting choice of McClaren - a decision that many Newcastle supporters will see as an instant betrayal of Mike Ashley's promise to change his approach to the club this summer.

McClaren has twice rejected Newcastle since Alan Pardew left for Crystal Palace at the turn of the year - including with three games remaining of the Premier League season - and has been sacked by a Championship club yet he still appears likely to be the next Toon boss. John Carver will be interviewed by the club within the next 48 hours about the job, though it appears likely he will be told he is being offered a differing role, while Vieira is now completely out of the running. Once again Newcastle have managed to build up the hopes of their supporters and then bring them crashing back down to Earth - and all in one fell swoop. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.