WHEREAS fans gave a mixed response to the appointment of Sam Allardyce, those in the game appear united in agreeing it is a great move by the Magpies.

Lifelong supporter Steve Wraith, editor of the North-East football magazine Players Inc, said: "I stood outside the press conference and there were only 25 supporters waiting to see Sam as opposed to 2,500 waiting for Bobby Robson when he was appointed.

"I wasn't very positive about the appointment - there is a lot of apathy around Newcastle, especially after the season we have had.

"I think it was right to part with Glenn (Roeder). He did a good job on no budget. He did what was expected, he was a stand-in.

"After the press conference, I am slightly more positive after listening to what he had to say."

Mark Jensen, editor of the fanzine The Mag, said: "I think in an ideal world he wouldn't have been my first choice, but now he has been appointed we'll have to get behind him.

"You look for the positives rather than the negatives. You can't imagine him being pushed around by the chairman or anybody else."

Season ticket-holder Ian Gilmour, of Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I am very happy with it, I am not one of those against it, and I don't see what the problem is. He is the best man for the job.

"There are people that Bolton don't play football but he plays to the strengths of the players he has.

"He has managed to get a team with very little money, and half the attendance we get, above us in the last few seasons. If he has money to spend he can get better quality players.''

Former Newcastle United midfielder and now Bolton player-coach Gary Speed said: "Sam meant a lot to a lot of people, no more than me. He is the best coach I have worked with.''

Newcastle United's Nicky Butt said: "I am looking forward to next season and hopefully the new manager will get the changing room sorted out."

Alan Shearer said: "Sam is an expert at getting the best out of players. I hope dearly he goes up there and wins a trophy. It is such a huge club and they are starved of success.

"One thing we can guarantee is he will get money to spend."

Legendary striker Malcolm Macdonald said: "This appointment will drag Newcastle into the 21st Century."

The last Newcastle captain to lift a trophy for Newcastle United, the old Fairs Cup back in 1969, Bobby Moncur said: "He is a big lad and strong enough to chin any player who steps out of line.

"Sam Allardyce has done a great job at Bolton Wanderers with limited resources, and that latter fact might reflect on how they have played.

"He never had the players to play fancy football. But hopefully he will get some money at St James' Park and Newcastle will get some players with flair."

Former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit said: "I hope he will succeed because Newcastle is like a big giant that wants to wake up.

"The fans are great, the people are great there and I hope they can do it.

"The difficulty for them is to get the right players there because most players who want to come to England want to play for Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool - the big clubs. So for them it is difficult to get the right players."