Former Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is continuing to monitor Andy Woodman's situation at St James' Park - as he would love to be reunited with the Magpies goalkeeping coach. Crystal Palace manager Pardew has already been linked with a move for Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul this summer - and the Eagles are in discussions with former Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye about a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain - but it is Woodman who he craves a reunion with most. The Chronicle claim that Pardew is desperate to be reunited with Woodman who, despite being contracted with Newcastle for the next five seasons, did not feature in the club's official photo of Steve McClaren and his backroom staff. A former stopper himself, goalkeeping coach Woodman has been at Newcastle since December 2010 - when he joined up with his former Palace teammate Pardew once more, having already worked on his staff at both West Ham United and Charlton Athletic. Having enjoyed an 18-year-old playing career with the likes of Northampton Town, Brentford, Colchester United, Oxford United and Stevenage Borough, Woodman was forced to retire through injury while at Rushden & Diamonds. He became the club's assistant boss before joining Pardew at West Ham, and he has pretty much followed the ex-Newcastle boss' career ever since - except to Southampton, and now at Palace. Interestingly, Pardew wants Woodman to join him at Selhurst Park - they both played together there, and the goalkeeping coach is from the south London area as well - but as of yet the Eagles have not met the compensation package the Magpies are demanding. With McClaren's former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele having been recently released by Derby County, it may only be a matter of time before he replaces Woodman at St James' Park. A complicating final factor, however, is that Woodman's son is a promising goalkeeper at Newcastle. England Under-19 stopper Freddie Woodman is seen as a future Three Lions international and Magpies No 1, so keeping his father as goalkeeping coach is seen as one way of retaining the services of the extremely-promising 18-year-old too... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
