Ruud Gullit spent his first day at the office as manager of Newcastle United yesterday and after the shellshock of the 4-1 hammering by Liverpool on Sunday, he found himself with another problem. In the wake of Terry McDermott's departure Gullit wants Steve Clarke of Chelsea to be his assistant but Clarke wants to come in the role of player-coach, thereby doubling his money.

Freddie Fletcher, Newcastle's chief executive, is understood to be opposed to any increase in Newcastle's immense wage bill. Clarke is player-coach at Chelsea, but at 35 he may have difficulty persuading Newcastle that the club needs to add another player to a first-team squad of more than 40.

Gullit, Clarke and Fletcher were involved in discussions at St James' Park yesterday aimed at finding a compromise solution.

One of that large squad, Keith Gillespie, said yesterday that he intends to play in Northern Ireland's European Championship qualifier in Turkey on Saturday despite not having appeared for Newcastle for four-and-a-half months.

The left-winger Gillespie injured his right ankle at White Hart Lane in April and would have completed a transfer to Middlesbrough a month ago but for Bryan Robson's doubts about the extent of his recovery.

But Gillespie said yesterday: "I have been through strenuous rehabilitation and I've been fit, ready and available for about 10 days now. I am on the trip to Turkey and I am determined to play. I have spoken to Lawrie McMenemy and I hope he picks me."