 Hughton was promoted to assistant manager after "the Magpies" appointed Colin Calderwood as first team coach on 26 January 2009.In February, Kinnear took ill before a game with West Bromwich Albion and Hughton took charge of that game which Newcastle won 3–2.In the week following the win, it was revealed that Kinnear needed a heart bypass operation and that Hughton along with Colin Calderwood and Paul Barron would have to take charge of the team for the next few weeks and possibly months.