Newcastle United have confirmed the club is to open talks with manager Chris Hughton over a new contract.
Some bookmakers have closed the market on the next Premier League manager being sacked following speculation that Hughton was poised to leave St James’ Park.
But the North East club have now released a statement confirming they will soon be holding talks with Hughton, who guided them back to the Premier League at the first attempt last season.
The statement read: “Chris is our manager and will remain our manager, and it is our intention to re-negotiate his contract at the end of the year.”
Hughton had previously admitted to Sky Sports News that the speculation over his future has not helped in recent weeks.
When asked if he had been affected by the rumours, he said: “It is difficult not to be, we are all aware about what goes on television, what is shown on television but I cannot do anything about that, I can just do the best job possible.
“As far as I am concerned I am a strong character and you have to work around these situations, they are not nice but the problem with rumours is that there is always rumours until they are not anymore.”