The Magpies terminated Hughton's contract on Monday with the club 11th in the Premier League, saying they needed "someone with more experience". Calderwood, who had worked as Hughton's assistant until taking charge at Hibernian in October, branded the dismissal "stupid". "What we had was a terrific team spirit and there was a unique chance for a football club to balance the books to a certain degree and move forward with a bit of stability and I think they can't be forgiven for losing that chance," Calderwood said on BBC Radio Five Live. "The foundation of the club could have been so much more secure, with a family environment and everyone trying to pull in the right direction if they had stuck with Chris." Asked what it was like to work under Ashley, Calderwood answered cryptically: "I think you've got a fair understanding of where you stand, but it changes quite dramatically." Calderwood recognised the players would be saddened by Hughton's dismissal. "More so than the vast majority of managers that get the sack they'll be hurt, shocked and saddened by what's happened," he said. "It'll be slightly awkward for the new manager in the first instance when he comes in." The Scot said he would be surprised if Ashley did not have a replacement already lined up. "There's probably someone in place already," Calderwood said. "I think they would have had some sort of discussions or some thought process about a replacement before they went and did this, otherwise it becomes even move stupid than it is at the minute." Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp condemned the decision to get rid of former White Hart Lane favourite Hughton. "I can't believe it," Redknapp said. "You couldn't get a better fella than Chris Hughton, and what a fantastic job he's done at Newcastle to get them promoted as he did." Although the dismissal was a disappointment to Redknapp, in Holland preparing for his team's Champions League match against FC Twente, he suggested it might have been coming for a while. "I think we've all felt something wasn't quite right there," Redknapp said. "He didn't get a contract and everything else. It's up to the people who own the club. They own the club and can do whatever they want, it's their decision." Redknapp has been amazed to see managers dismissed in what he considers a knee-jerk fashion. "Too often when things are going well they like to interfere, or make changes for whatever reason," he said. "Maybe their mate at the golf club tells them they should change the manager. I don't know, it's strange. "It's ridiculous really how things work out in this game. "But in Chris' case he can walk away with his head held high. "You hope people see sense and, if they appoint a manager, realise it can change so quickly. "One or two results can take a team that is struggling or having a bad run into a good position. "Too many times that reaction is too great to sack someone after a couple of defeats or whatever. "A manager's either good or he's not good. If you appoint someone you believe he's good enough to do the job. Let him do what he wants to do in the job and back him. "Because that's why you appointed him, you thought he was good in the first place."
