PREPARATIONS for Sam Allardyce's first season in charge are already being hindered by a failure to put firm plans in place for Newcastle United's pre-season schedule.

Allardyce - who reportedly must deal with a £8.5m offer from West Ham for Scott Parker - will be hoping to arrange a number of fixtures before the start of the campaign on August 11.

It had been hoped, and expected, that Newcastle would have been involved in the reputable Amsterdam tournament on August 2, but host club Ajax have announced the Magpies are not one of those clubs invited.

Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Lazio, along with Ajax, will be making up the quartet at the Amsterdam Arena and that has left Newcastle trying to put something else in place.

At this stage, Newcastle only have the visit of Celtic in their schedule, on July 26, despite unconfirmed speculation that both Carlisle and Hartlepool are expected to figure as well.

Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper spoke out earlier in the campaign about summer schedules hindering the club's chances of success, possibly suggesting that starting early by playing in the Intertoto Cup has taken its toll in recent years.

However, without the prospect of playing in that competition this time around, Newcastle know lining up the right friendlies will be essential if Allardyce is to be given the perfect start to his first season in charge.

He is hoping to make a couple of staff appointments within the next week, with his former head of sports science, Mark Taylor, and head of performance, Mike Forde, from Bolton, the two most likely arrivals.

He is also determined to make important additions to his playing squad, although he realises the sooner the club sorts out its power struggle the better.

FC Copenhagen's Michael Gravgaard became the latest name to be mentioned as a possible target for Allardyce yesterday. The midfielder is also being tracked by Aston Villa and Marseille.

But, despite having a long list of players he is hoping to sign, defender Tal Ben Haim and Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka are the two he knows he has the best chance of signing quickly, given the pair are out of contract.

Sources in Lancashire remain adamant Allardyce is also interested in taking Manchester City bad-boy Joey Barton to St James' Park, as well as Wigan's Leighton Baines