Malky Mackay has revealed that he held talks about becoming Newcastle United assistant manager prior to taking the Cardiff City job.
Cardiff play host to Newcastle on Saturday with the Scot admitting that he was approached to form part of his counterpart Alan Pardew s backroom staff while he was in charge of Watford.
The 41-year-old, though, opted to remain at Vicarage Road and subsequently joined Cardiff in 2011 before guiding the club into the Premier League last season by clinching the Championship title.
Mackay played under Pardew at West Ham and is full of praise for the work his close friend has done at St James Park since his arrival in December 2010.
I could have been at Newcastle, Mackay said.
We had that conversation concerning me going up there as his (Pardew s) number two, but it didn t happen.
I know Alan well, he is a good friend of mine and he has certainly been a mentor for me over the past few years in terms of conversations we have had.
I also played for him, I was his captain at West Ham.
He is a good friend of mine and he has done a very good job at Newcastle.
He was given a long-term contract and he has brought stability to that club to an extent.
You look at the recruitment he has orchestrated there in his time and that stability is important in football, and that is what I am trying to do here in terms of staff and recruitment.
Cardiff sit one point and five places above Newcastle in the Premier League table.
Mackay added: So I am expecting a tough game against a team who on their day can take anyone apart.
