Middlesbrough brought in Terry Venables when times were hard at the Riverside ... but GOD FORBID ... he's not coming to Newcastle (is he?).

The Evening Chronicle claims he has "an understanding with Toon chief Dennis Wise after managing the former midfielder with England" and Venables has "told friends not to rule him out of a possible head coach role working under the former Wimbledon and Chelsea star".

Wise is obviously pulling the strings, and we feared this (and reported it) back in January when he was drafted in behind Keegan's back.