Terry Venables has revealed the reason he turned down the chance to become Newcastle's interim manager, insisting the club "means too much to too many people" to agree to a match-by-match deal.

Venables emerged as the surprise favourite to be handed the reins at St James' Park and while the well-travelled coach admits he had talks with the Magpies, he was not prepared to sink himself into a job he could be relieved of at any time.

The 65-year-old former England boss admitted he would have been interested in taking the job on a long-term basis and described himself as "honoured" to be approached about the post, which was vacated when Kevin Keegan departed in acrimony earlier this month.

Venables said: "There is one reason and one reason alone why I've turned down the chance to take temporary charge at Newcastle - time.

"Newcastle United means too much to too many people to take the job on a short-term basis. It demands total commitment and dedication from a manager who is prepared to throw himself heart and soul into the club.

"I didn't want to move up to Tyneside and find myself surplus to requirements before I'd even had the chance to get my teeth into the challenge."

He added: "The way the job was offered to me meant that I might be working at St James' Park for two months, two years - or two weeks. There was far too much uncertainty involved."

Newcastle had identified Venables as the man to steady the ship after a disastrous series of bad results and fan protests, possibly looking to a similar firefighting role he performed at Middlesbrough eight years ago.

But Venables believes such a job in not viable given the uncertainty engulfing the club, leaving caretaker manager Chris Hughton in position for the home game against Blackburn.

El Tel met with under-fire trio Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez and Derek Llambias about the job, but he insists he was not worried about facing any flak from the Geordie fans over his London roots.

He added: "I know only too well that many of the Newcastle supporters have been protesting about the so-called 'Cockney Mafia' running their club. But I honestly don't believe it would have been an issue for me. All my work would have been done in the dressing room, not the boardroom."

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