Newcastle sack coach Chris Hughton

Newcastle: Newcastle fired Chris Hughton on Monday, with the mid-table Premier League club announcing that it wants to install a more experienced manager.

Hughton steered Newcastle back into the Premier League in May after a season in the second-tier and had presided over a 5-1 rout of local rival Sunderland in October, a 1-0 victory at Arsenal and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. He becomes the first top-flight manager to be sacked this season.

Despite a 3-1 collapse at West Browmich Albion on Sunday — Newcastle's third loss in five matches — the north-east club is still 11th in the standings after 16 matches.

"Regrettably the Board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward," Newcastle said in a statement. "The task of appointing a new manager now begins. An announcement will be made shortly regarding transitional arrangements pending the appointment of a successor."

Bookmaker William Hill installed former West Ham manager Alan Pardew as the 7-2 favorite to succeed Hughton, followed by Martin O'Neill, who quit Aston Villa before the start of the season, at 9-2.

The 51-year-old Hughton was hired by Newcastle in February 2008 as Kevin Keegan's assistant and also served under Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer.

The former Ireland defender took over as interim manager after Newcastle was relegated from the top-flight in May 2009 and he was appointed on a permanent contract later in that year. That deal was due to expire at the end of this season.

"The Board would like to place on record their thanks to Chris for his considerable efforts during the club's transition from Championship to Premier League football," Newcastle said. "Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment."

Speculation had been mounting that Newcastle's failure to offer Hughton a new contract signaled that his future was in doubt.

Newcastle had to issue a statement in October insisting that Hughton would "remain our manager and it is our intention to re-negotiate his contract at the end of the year."