Peter Beardsley has been offered a chance to join the coaching staff at second division Hartlepool United.
The 42-year-old has been offered the post of youth team coach by 'Pool chairman Ken Hodcroft just weeks after he and Newcastle Academy director Kenny Wharton were cleared of bullying two youngsters by an FA Premier League tribunal.
But promoted neighbours Hartlepool, with whom Beardsley finished his playing career in 1999, now want him to take over their youth set-up after Martin Scott was promoted to reserve team boss on the appointment of Neale Cooper as first-team manager following Mike Newell’s departure.