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Newcastle plan to speak to a series of potential candidates for the vacant post of head coach once again, Press Association Sport reports. Managing director Lee Charnley, as he did following Alan Pardew's departure for Crystal Palace in January, intends to hold informal talks with several men in order to gauge what they have to offer and whether they could work within the prevailing system at St James' Park. Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, head of Manchester City's Elite Development squad, is among a small number of contenders with who discussions will be held, while the name of long-term target Steve McClaren, now a free agent following his sacking by Derby, is also on the list. Former Swansea boss Michael Laudrup is available after his brief stint in Qatar with Lekhwiya, and could be invited to share his thoughts on the position. However, it appears that current boss John Carver, who took over from Pardew on an interim basis and suffered a tortuous second half of the season, has slipped in the pecking order after winning only three of his 19 Premier League games at the helm. Newcastle did much of the groundwork towards making an appointment at the turn of the year, but at that point, their preferred candidate was unavailable. They spoke to McClaren and Remi Garde, among others, at that stage and the former England boss was offered the chance to return to the North-East, where he enjoyed a successful spell with Middlesbrough between 2001 and 2006. However, he opted to remain loyal to Derby, and in turn, Newcastle decided to wait until the end of the campaign. McClaren was approached once again with three crucial games left of Newcastle's season, and with Derby's promotion hopes from the Championship having being dashed. That offer was rejected but now that McClaren is available -- and perhaps significantly, there would be no compensation to pay -- he could prove attractive. Vieira would be a very different candidate, one with no proven track record as a head coach, but with a glittering playing career behind him. He is currently completing his coaching qualifications and would certainly be the kind of name to excite disgruntled fans. Charnley is in no rush to make an appointment with the field having changed significantly since January.
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