Life has been "hectic" for Alan Curbishley since he took over at the struggling Hammers and he is counting down the days to the end of the transfer window.
Curbishley Bracing Himself For Toon Swoop?
Curbishley has a relegation battle to be fought and he knows he has a fight on his hands keeping hold of central defender Anton Ferdinand. Newcastle have been turned down by TWO foreign defenders in their quest for loan deals, and chairman Freddy Shepherd maybe forced to push the boat out and try and prize the England Under-21 defender away from Upton Park.
Curbishley: "I have never encountered this situation before, taking over mid-way through the season, and just before the transfer window opens.
"The challenge is nothing that I didn't expect but it has been hectic.
"I tried to take a day off with the players yesterday but then the chairman (Eggert Magnusson) phoned me up and I was back on it again.
"Eggert is very full-on. He has got West Ham in his heart and he is desperate for the club to do well. There will be no respite while the window is open. When it closes we can settle down and just get on with it."
Curbishley has made it clear it will take a fat cheque to get Ferdinand to leave, and the player has played down any talk of a move.
But Shepherd has promised Newcastle fans two signings, and his track record at last minute "bargain basement" deals is not encouraging. He blew it big style in the summer, and the Toon Army are waiting for an outcome this time.