Martin Jol is waiting in the wings to replace Sam Allardyce at Newcastle United.

The Sun says Jol was offered the Toon job before Big Sam was appointed in May but the Dutchman stayed at Spurs. Now he is waiting for another call from St James' Park and believes he can live up to their expectations.

Jol, 51, is keen to return to work two months after being sacked by Spurs with a £4million pay-off. He has already turned down approaches from Birmingham and Fulham because he does not fancy battling relegation.

But he is excited by the prospect of managing Newcastle and knows they can match his own ambitions. It was news of the Toon's approach last season which undermined Jol at Spurs, where directors were unhappy he was even considering a move to another club.

He finished fifth in both of his last two campaigns at White Hart Lane.

And earlier this season he pointed out: "When I took charge here, Spurs were probably behind the likes of Newcastle.

"If you told Sam Allardyce he'd finish in the top five for the next two years, he would be so happy.

"They would probably build a big statue of him outside the stadium at St James' Park."