ewcastle forward Obafemi Martins has called for Joe Kinnear to be handed the managerial reins at St James’ Park on a full-time basis.

Kinnear has presided over just two defeats in seven games since being brought in by club owner Mike Ashley on an interim basis at the end of September.

‘Joe should get the job permanently because stability and support are what the club needs,’ Martins said.

‘We have a manager who does not seek the glamour of handling a Premier League club, he does his own thing the best way he can and so far we are just having fun.

‘The club should stick with him,’ the striker was quoted by a cross-section of the British press.

Meanwhile, Kinnear has revealed a planned meeting with Ashley to discuss his future, scheduled for after Saturday’s game at Chelsea, has been postponed due to issues with the attempted sale of the club.

‘Every time the club gets nearer to being sold a problem pops up, the credit crunch, or whatever else,’ Kinnear said.

‘When I walked in they said the club would be sold around about the Chelsea game.

‘They keep saying we are getting close but obviously we have not seen any finances coming up from the American group interested. That is all they tell me.’