'Stand up for yourself', Sam Allardyce tells Newcastle manager Chris Hughton

Allardyce, who was sacked by Ashley following eight months in charge at St James' Park, believes Hughton must ask the sports retail tycoon to end the certainty over his position by offering him a new long-term deal.

Hughton's current deal runs out at the end of the season and even though his paymasters at Newcastle have told him they will sit down for talks at the turn of the year, Blackburn manager Allardyce thinks his Tyneside counterpart should press for immediate talks.

"I would ask the chairman to stop all the speculation and give me a contract, now, on the back of that (5-1 win)," Allardyce said.

"While it is hot for him and while the players have done what they can for him it is time you have to really stand up for yourself as a manager and you have to say 'come on, where is that contract and let's stop all that speculation'.

"The players are all behind him. Kevin Nolan is a very good captain. I gave him the captaincy after Jay-Jay Okocha at Bolton and he has grown into the position. You can see he had every player on song today and his own performance in itself tell you what the players think of the manager."

Speculation over Hughton's position reached fever pitch last week when Newcastle were beaten 4-0 by Arsenal in the Carling Cup, prompting his employers to offer him a public vote of confidence following the defeat

"He got stick midweek for playing a weakened side against Arsenal which is always something you put yourself up for as a manager the priority is that Newcastle must stay in this division this season," Allardyce added.

"And if that is your priority given to you by the owners of the club then you do your best to manage to make sure that will be the case first and playing in the Carling Cup then becomes a secondary competition.

"He justified what he did in midweek with an outstanding performance by his players and completely over-run Sunderland to win the game 5-1."