And one of the outsiders (according to William Hill betting) is former Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan at 60/1.
Roberto Martinez left the club for Everton and Whelan revealed on Saturday that around 50 people have applied for the job of restoring the FA Cup winners to the Barclays Premier League.
Whelan told Sky Sports News: "I've got about 10 or 12 to interview over the next few days and hope to make an announcement by next weekend.
"There were more than 50 applications. I can't interview all of them - but I thank them for applying."
Names linked with the vacancy include Brighton's Gus Poyet, Mike Phelan and Rene Meulensteen - both assistants to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - MK Dons' Karl Robinson and former Bolton and Burnley boss Owen Coyle.
However, Whelan would not be drawn on names, adding: "I'm talking to a lot of great managers, hopefully I can choose the right one - and that's not easy.
"They all need that bit of luck to succeed. We've only one ambition and that's to get back in the Premier League."
Whelan revealed the new manager can expect to be financially rewarded if he is successful in leading Wigan back to the top flight.
Asked what he would receive for masterminding a Premier League return for Wigan, the chairman told Sky Sports News: "Quite a healthy bonus...a few millions pounds. I believe in the bonus system.
"We think of ourselves as a Premier League club - we had eight years there.
"I wouldn't like to say we'll sell anybody. I'll appoint a manager and give him my full backing. I will listen to what he wants and says and will back him 100 per cent.
"Anyone who wants our players has to offer enough money to tempt us. Roberto is a friend for life but Wigan is a business and he's got to pay the right money to get the right player.
"Not one bid has been received. The season is so long at the end players and their families go away, everyone has to rest for at least four weeks.
"We have to have a budget. We've got to play 58 games this season. We are going to get injuries - that's what brought us out of the Premier League."
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NEWCASTLE UNITED FC 2012/13
Newcastle United Fixtures
PREMIERSHIP
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Harper, Debuchy, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa (80' Campbell), Ben Arfa, Cabaye (57' Anita), Tiote, Gutierrez, Gouffran (64' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Perch, Obertan
QPR 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfa (pen), Gouffran)
Elliot, Debuchy, Coloccini, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cabaye, Tiote (52' Perch), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (82' Harper), Cisse, Gouffran (77' Obertan).
Subs: Simpson, Anita, Marveaux, Campbell
WEST HAM 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Ben Arfa (65' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (76' Gosling), Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Anita, Perch, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 0 LIVERPOOL 6
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko, Tiote (65' Anita), Cabaye, Perch (46' Gouffran), Gutierrez (46' Ben Arfa), Cisse
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Shola Ameobi
WBA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gouffran)
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (77' Ben Arfa), Perch, Cabaye (90+4' Gosling), Gouffran (69' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Anita, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul (57' Elliot), Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Tiote, Cabaye (62' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (46' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cisse
Subs:Anita, Perch, Haidara, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (81' Campbell), Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Santon (17' Anita), Marveaux, Cabaye, Sissoko, Gutierrez, Cisse, Gouffran (69' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Bigirimana, Obertan
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Simpson, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez, Anita, Cabaye (74' Bigirimana), Obertan (45' Perch), Sissoko, Gouffran (63' Gosling), Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Marveaux, Good, Campbell
WIGAN 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Santon)
Elliot, Debuchy (13' Haidara, 27' Perch), S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Marveaux, Tiote, Gutierrez, Gouffran (67' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Anita, Gosling, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 STOKE CITY 1 (Cabaye, Cisse)
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon (73' Haidara), Cabaye, Tiote (73' Marveaux), Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran (86' Campbell), Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Anita, Perch, Obertan.
SWANSEA 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Gouffran, Cabaye, Sissoko, Tiote (90' Marveaux), Gutierrez (90' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Alnwick, Anita, Perch, Haidara, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 4 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Sissoko, Cisse, Cabaye pen, Hooiveld og)
Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini (Yanga-Mbiwa, 45), Santon; Cabaye (Perch, 77), Tiote; Gouffran, (Anita, 88) Sissoko, Gutierrez; Cisse.
Subs not used: Alnwick, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi.
SPURS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Perch (82' Tiote), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gutierrez (86' Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (58' Marveaux) Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 3 CHELSEA 2 (Gutierrez, Sissoko 2)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Cabaye, Gouffran (84' Marveaux), Sissoko (90+2' Yanga-Mbiwa), Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Anita, Bigirimana, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cisse, Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (69' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gouffran (74' Anita), Sissoko (79' Yanga-Mbiwa), Gutierrez, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 1 READING 2 (Cabaye)
Krul, Coloccini, Santon, Debuchy, Williamson, Cabaye (74'Bigirimana), Anita (80'Obertan), Cisse, Marveaux (65'Perch), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Elliot, S Taylor, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger.
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Anita (Bigirimana, 84), Perch; Obertan (Cabaye, 57), Marveaux, Gutierrez; Cisse.
Subs not used: Harper, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 EVERTON 2 (Cisse)
Krul, Perch (87' Ranger), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (65' Bigirimana), Anita, Tiote (79' Sammy Ameobi), Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier, Abeid
ARSENAL 7 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ba 2, Marveaux)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Coloccini, Perch, Santon, Obertan, Bigirimana (82' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Marveaux (88' Tavernier), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Sammy Ameobi, Mehdi Abeid, Streete.
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (Perch, Evans og, Ba)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Perch, Bigirimana (65' Obertan), Cisse (79' Sammy Ameobi), Ba (71' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Tavernier,Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita, Tiote (77' Marveaux), Perch, Gutierrez (60' Obertan), Ba, Cisse (61' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (82' Ferguson), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Perch, Tiote (74' Marveaux), Anita, Gutierrez, Cisse (79' Shola Ameobi), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier
FULHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Gutierrez, Tiote (86' Bigirimana), Anita (86' Marveaux), Ben Arfa (70' Shola Ameobi), Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 3 WIGAN 0 (Ba 2 - 1 pen, Bigirimana)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (49' Ferguson), Marveaux, Tiote (46' Bigirimana) Anita, Gutierrez (75' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse
Subs: Harper, Shola Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier
STOKE 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita (87' Sammy Ameobi), Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (87' Ranger).
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Ferguson, Tavernier
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor (90+1' Perch), Williamson, Santon, Anita (66' Marveaux), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ferguson (46' Sammy Ameobi), Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Bigirimana, Ranger, Tavernier
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Ba)
Krul, Simpson (74' Bigirimana), S Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Anita, Tiote, Ferguson (46' Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi (79' Marveaux), Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Amalfitano, Tavernier,Abeid
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 1
Krul, Simpson (79' Obertan), Steven Taylor, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (24' Anita), Ferguson, Cisse (45+5' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs:Elliot, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Marveaux.
LIVERPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Anita, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Perch (26' Simpson), Cabaye (68' Ferguson), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Ba (49' Sammy Ameobi).
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (61 Cisse), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (72 Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi (61 Obertan).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Steven Taylor, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Cabaye)
Krul,Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (79' S Taylor) Santon, Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa (83' Obertan), Ba, Shola Ameobi (38' Perch).
Subs: Harper, Anita, Cisse, Ferguson
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN UTD 3
Harper, Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson (63' Anita), Ben Arfa, Tiote (80' Bigirimana), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Cisse (63' Shola Ameobi), Ba
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
READING 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor (Tavernier 56), Santon, Ben Arfa, Tiote, Bigirimana (Ferguson 70), Gutierrez, Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba.
Subs not used: Elliot, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 1 NORWICH 0 (Ba)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Steven Taylor, Santon, Ben Arfa (Shola 85mins), Anita (Tiote 76 mins), Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse (Obertan 70 mins), Ba
Subs unused: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
EVERTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Harper; Perch, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Anita, Cabaye (Bigirimana 93), Gutierrez; Marveaux (Ba 46), Ben Arfa; Cissé (Shola Ameobi 80).
Substitutes not used Elliot (g), Gosling, Obertan, Tavernier.
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson (Bigirimana 38), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Anita, Gutierrez (Marveaux 86), Ba (Obertan 86), Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 64), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Santon (Marveaux 74), Ben Arfa, Anita, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse
Subs not used: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 1 (Ba, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Perch, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye (Anita, 71), Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba (Obertan, 85). Subs not used: Harper; R Taylor, Williamson, Gosling, Amalfitano
FA CUP
BRIGHTON 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Perch (46' Dummett), Williamson, Santon, Anita, Abeid (46' Ranger), Bigirimana, Obertan (71' Marveaux), Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi
Subs: Krul, Amalfitano, Ferguson, Campbell
EUROPA LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 BENFICA 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (67' Marveaux), Anita (63' Ben Arfa), Bigirimana (45' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Perch, Gosling, Campbell
BENFICA 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Krul, Simpson (83' Gosling), S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Perch (62' Anita), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Marveaux (80' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Obertan, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (37' Gutierrez), Anita (71' Campbell), Marveaux, Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Bigirimana, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
ANZHI MAKHACHKALA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Simpson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Perch, Haidara, Cabaye (84' Tiote), Anita (75' S Taylor), Ben Arfa (64' Shola Ameobi), Marveaux, Obertan, Sissoko
Subs: Alnwick, Santon, Bigirimana, Campbell
METALIST KHARKIV 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Anita (76' Perch), Cabaye (87' Bigirimana), Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Cisse (75' Gutierrez).
Subs: Elliot, Gosling, Obertan, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 METALIST KHARKIV 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (62' Marveaux), Tiote (79' Shola Ameobi), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Cisse.
Subs: Elliot, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Haidara.
BORDEAUX 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Tavernier, Williamson (74' Coloccini), Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Bigirimana, Ranger, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi (46' Anita) Shola Ameobi (80' Cisse)
Subs: Krul, Simpson, Romain Amalfitano, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 MARITIMO 1
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux, Bigirimana, Anita, Sammy Ameobi (76' Abeid), Ben Arfa (40' Ba), Cisse (50' Amalfitano)
Subs: Elliot, Williamson, Ferguson, Tavernier'.
CLUB BRUGGE 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson (58' Steven Taylor), Coloccini, Tavernier, Tiote, Sammy Ameobi (83' Amalfitano), Marveaux, Bigirimana (72' Cabaye), Obertan, Shola Ameobi
Sub: Elliot, Santon, Cisse, Shane Ferguson
NEWCASTLE 1 CLUB BRUGGE 0 (Obertan)
Harper, Perch, Santon, Steven Taylor, Ferguson 80 (Cabaye), Obertan, Tiote, Bigirimana, Anita 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi 73' (Coloccini), Cisse
Subs: Krul, Ben Arfa, Ba, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 3 BORDEAUX 0 (Shola Ameobi, Henrique og), Cisse)
Elliot (Harper, 46 ); Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Anita, Tiote (Gosling, 71), Cabaye (Bigirimana, 61); Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Obertan.
Subs: Santon, Arfa, Ba, Sammy Ameobi.
MARITIMO 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Perch, S Taylor, Gosling, Amalfitano (Ferguson 76), Bigirimana, Obertan (Marveaux 80), Vuckic (Sami Ameobi 53), Shola Ameobi.
Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Tavernier, Abeid, Campbell
NEWCASTLE 1 ATROMITOS 0 (Vuckic)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor (11 Vuckic), Obertan, Bigirimana, Perch (59 Tavernier), Marveaux (91 Amalfitano), Gosling, Ba.
Subs: Harper, Cabaye, Cisse, Campbell.
ATROMITOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (R Taylor)
Harper; Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor; Bigirimana, Anita; Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano, 64), Marveaux (Gutierrez, 71); Cisse (Campbell, 77). Subs not used: Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S Taylor.
LEAGUE CUP
MAN UTD 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Coloccini (Ferguson 61), Williamson, Perch, Tavernier, Gosling, Marveaux, Tioté (Bigirimana 71), Obertan, Vuckic (Cisse 81), Shola Ameobi.
Subs not used: Harper, Anita, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi.
PRE-SEASON
CARDIFF CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shola Ameobi pen)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (Williamson 46), Steven Taylor (Gosling 63), Santon, Obertan (Campbell 83), Tiote (Amalfitano 71) , Gutiérrez, Marveaux (Vuckic 46), R Taylor (Perch 28), Shola Ameobi.
HARTLEPOOL 1 NEWCASTLE 5 (Shola Ameobi, Marveaux 2, Obertan, Vuckic)
Harper (Alnwick 82), Simpson (Good 72), Tavernier, Williamson, S.Taylor (Vuckic 46), Perch (R.Taylor 72), Gosling, Amalfitano (Santon 80), Marveaux (Obertan 78), Sh.Ameobi (Ben Arfa 46), Bigirimana (Abeid 59).
DEN HAAG 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul; S Taylor (Gosling 65), R Taylor (Perch 71), Coloccini, Santon (Simpson 80); Obertan (Bigirimana 71), Tiote (Ameobi 71), Vuckic (Williamson 65), Gutierrez; Ba (Amalfitano 82), Cisse
BRAGA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, R Taylor)
Harper; Simpson, Tavernier, Coloccini, R.Taylor; Sammy Ameobi (Obertan 88), Tiote (Cabaye 70), Gutierrez, Marveaux; Cisse, Ba (Vuckic 85).
OLYMPIACOS 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (S Taylor)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor (Dummett 46), Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano, Vuckic, Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72).
FENERBAHCE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Abeid)
Elliot, Simpson (Santon 68), Tavernier, Coloccini, R Taylor, Tiote (Bigirimana 59), Gosling (Abeid 73), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 75), Marveuax (Gutierrez 59), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi 46), Ba (Cisse 68).
MONACO 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba)
Harper, Santon (Ryan Taylor 57), Simpson, Williamson (Perch 46), Gutierrez, Amalfitano (Obertan 62), Abeid (Tavernier 46), Bigirimana (Tiote 62), Sammy Ameobi (Vuckic 46), Shola Ameobi (Gosling 62), Ba (Marveaux 78)
CHEMNITZER 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot; Tavernier (Simpson, 70), Williamson, Perch, R Taylor (Santon, 70); Obertan (Gutierrez, 77), Abeid (Bigirimana, 70), Gosling, Amalfitano; Vuckic (Shola Ameobi, 70), Sammy Ameobi (Ba, 77). Sub not used: Harper.