Newcastle World journalist Liam Kennedy has claimed that the club's assistant manager Graeme Jones could keep the team in the Premier League without the help of Steve Bruce.
The 51-year-old has been a first-team coach at St James' Park since January, and could now be handed the manager's job on an interim basis.
What's the latest news involving Jones?
Following the completed takeover of Newcastle last Thursday, speculation has been rife that Bruce is likely to lose his job after a winless start to the season, which sees the Magpies down in 19th place at the moment.
It has been reported that if Bruce does leave, Jones is set to step in and take charge of the side when they return to action on Sunday at home to Tottenham.
What has Kennedy said about Jones?
Jones has become an influential figure at Newcastle over the past nine months, and it has seemed that he has had more authority than Bruce at times during this period.
That certainly appeared to be the case when the pair had an animated conversation with Matt Ritchie last month during the team's 1-1 draw with Leeds, as the player looked to be far more interested in listening to what Jones had to say.
When asked by GIVEMESPORT about Jones' credentials as a manager at the highest level, Kennedy responded: “Do I think Graeme Jones would have enough to keep Newcastle United in the division without Steve Bruce. That’s a big question. I think he could, yeah.”
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Will Jones get the chance to prove Kennedy right?
Right now, that appears unlikely.
Given that Newcastle now have the wealthiest owners in the country, it seems that a higher profile name will probably replace Bruce in the coming days or weeks. According to The Telegraph, there are a number of candidates in the running, including Antonio Conte, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Still, Jones could get his first opportunity to manage in the Premier League this weekend against Spurs, and if he can pick up a win in that game it could convince the club's owners to stick with him for a little longer, rather than rushing to make an alternative appointment.
Interim coaches have flourished in the past, such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, who was eventually handed the job permanently after originally coming in to steady the ship at Old Trafford.
If Jones can also get a couple of quick victories under his belt, he may get some time in the dugout to show exactly what he can do in England's top-flight.