ON THE Friday before Michael Owen's long-awaited return to action at Reading, Glenn Roeder cut short his morning press conference without speaking to the daily press.

Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, had arrived early for a pre-arranged meeting at the club's Longbenton training ground and a sheepish Roeder disappeared quickly.

His assistant, Nigel Pearson, was left to pick up the pieces in front of the media.

It is unlikely Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez or even Paul Jewell would have scurried away in such a manner. Sam Allardyce certainly wouldn't.

And when the latter takes charge at St James' Park, Shepherd will need to refrain from meddling in team affairs and Allardyce is the type to ensure that happens.

When Shepherd appointed Roeder 12 months ago on a permanent basis, it was a decision made out of necessity rather than respect. It was a similar scenario when Newcastle had to turn to Graeme Souness due to a lack of alternatives.

On this occasion Shepherd, provided there are no last minute hitches, will land his first and only choice, a fact highlighted by how quickly he has acted following Allardyce's parting with Bolton.

From the outset the respect which needs to exist between a manager and his chairman will be there. If Shepherd has learned anything from past mistakes, Allardyce will be allowed to do what he wants and given the backing to do it when he wants.

At Bolton he has proved capable of attracting top players to an unfashionable club on a restricted budget.

At Newcastle, where many members of the squad earn more in a year than he has been able to spend regularly on one player at the Reebok, he will be given the opportunity he has wanted: to spend big.

If Allardyce is as effective at managing millions as he was at forming a healthy squad on a low budget then Newcastle could finally be heading for a brighter future.

Shepherd's dream appointment, though, will count for very little if the St James' Park chief continues to work on his own list of transfer targets, rather than the one given to him by the new man at the helm.

The managerial change will be the first of many alterations on Tyneside this summer, with many players' futures uncertain and a desperation for almost an entire new defence.

When Allardyce takes over, the fans' opinions will be divided with many unconvinced by the 52-year-old's direct football tactics. Nevertheless, for the first time since Sir Bobby Robson's appointment, Shepherd would appear to have got this decision right.

It's too early to say how successful Allardyce will be at Newcastle, although when you consider the other options available to Shepherd then it is difficult to look too far beyond the former Bolton manager.

It would not have been the right time for Alan Shearer to have stepped up, he is comfortable in his media role and would have had far too much pressure on him to turn things around too quickly. Newcastle supporters, unlike at Middlesbrough, have spent too long being patient.

There is a need for success and perhaps the only man currently available who would have been a more viable alternative is Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Shepherd, by all accounts and contrary to reports, has never even considered him and most supporters would have been dissatisfied with the Swede's appointment.

However, despite his shortcomings at international level with England, Eriksson boasts one of the best managerial records at European club level, having succeeded in Italy, Portugal and Sweden.

Allardyce, however, is the man Shepherd is pursuing. And, in acting in the best interests of a public limited company, Roeder has departed.

What next for Newcastle United? That, it would seem, rests on the shoulders of Shepherd and Big Sam. A solid working relationship and the 38-year wait for silverware could soon be over.