Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has reportedly decided to look to Fabricio Coloccini as a possible replacement for the outgoing Alan Pardew.
It was revealed on Monday that the Magpies had given Pardew permission to talk to Crystal Palace about taking over from Neil Warnock, leaving Ashley to begin the search for the seventh manager of his seven-and-a-half-year reign.
According to The Independent, Newcastle captain Coloccini is the leading candidate, despite still being a key member of the playing squad at St James' Park.
The report claims that the possibility of becoming Pardew's successor was put to the 32-year-old Argentine when club officials, including former managing director Derek Llambias, were persuading him to abandon his bid to leave Newcastle last year.
Coloccini's current deal does not expire until 2016, but he will reportedly be offered a new contract by Ashley if he does decide to take on the player-manager role.
Callum Mulvihill
