Now Alan Shearer is hoping to add to his backroom staff - IF he takes the job - with the personnel he believes have the credentials to take the club forward.
Big Al worked with close allies Iain Dowie and Paul Ferris throughout his eight-game spell in charge but, with Colin Calderwood and Chris Hughton on their way out of Newcastle, Shearer understandably wants his own backroom team.
Former assistant boss John Carver, and former player Rob Lee is also understood to be on his hit list.
Sam Allardyce had an army of backroom staff that numbered 20!