Newcastle board fail Keegan and fans
Update: Newcastle United have denied reports that Keegan has left the club, saying:
“Kevin has raised a number of issues.
We’d like to stress Kevin is extremely important both now and in the future and want him to continue to play an instrumental role as manager.”
Kevin Keegan isn’t happy with how Newcastle’s transfer window shopping went. To be fair, he has had little control over the moves (or lack thereof); Milner’s transfer happened against his will and higher management (Wise) has failed to offload the deadwood or bring in fresh blood as promised.
Today’s reports suggest that Keegan is in talks with Ashley and some reports suggest that he’s already quit, although I think that’s premature. Keegan may feel that he’s being asked work miracles (especially in light of the City takeover) but if he walks out now, I’d be disappointed.
He’s a better man and a better manager than that. The fans and the players respect him, and everyone associated with the club realises that he’s doing the best he can and unlike Big Sam before him, the respect will carry him through the lows that come as part of any football season.
Running a football club is a difficult business, transfers as we saw yesterday equally so, but the timing of this ‘discussion’ is very suspect. Keegan could have seen at the start of August where this was headed – and although Newcastle have been moderately successful in the opening clashes (1 win, 1 draw, 1 defeat with two of those games away to United and Arsenal), it’s clear that Newcastle do not have the squad to do what the fans and the owner expects them to do.
If Keegan can play this smart and either get control of transfers or work with Wise in offloading the fringe players in January or next summer, then there’s space to move for Newcastle next year. As far as this season is concerned, Newcastle need to work on getting a top-10 finish, a decent cup run and some momentum going with players performing consistently.
If Keegan can do that, and if the board backs him, then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be manager next summer and why he can’t get the players in next year. If Ashley wants more, or if Keegan finds it impossible to work with Wise, he’s going to be out of Newcastle United by sundown, and that’s going to be a bloody shame.
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I’m glad someone else thinks all this ‘KK is gone’ media coverage is premature. It just doesn’t ring true, if only because I don’t think Ashley is daft enough to put himself in that position.
Things are obviously far from right, and we know that KK is prone to acting on impulse rather than sleeping on major decisions. But I’m still hoping that he and Ashley can sort something out and make a positive announcement in the next few hours. Otherwise, Ashley can wave goodbye to the reason he’s cited for buying the club: enjoying it as a supporter.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:02Well said. Totally agree. Lets hope it’s just more press s**t stirring.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:02I hope so, Keegan has had a tough time with the Board not really giving him the reigns, but to make him say it was his decision to sell Milner after he publicly said Milner is going nowhere then I think the board are making it look like KK has lost the plot. I wouldn’t blame him if he walked, and i want a refund for my shirt.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:11He is respected thoughout the uk footballing nation, even at the emirates last saturday, Aresnal Fan’s and Toon Fans were singing “One Kevin Keegan , There’s only one kevin Keegan”.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:16You can tell how respected a manager is, with the amount of grief or lack of grief the fans, give them when they are standing up on the technical area…..
Alan Curbishley & Harry Rednapp are another 2 that get every little grief….
Lets hope he does stay, otherwise, you can see ashley and wise being ditched by the fans as well….
Hey Ahmed, a well balanced and intelligently written piece.
Keegan’s efforts have been frustrated and the board may not have offered him the support or freedom of control thay may have first promised.
If Keegan feels boxed in, he will go, and with a real heavy heart.
Lets hope they can salvage this situation.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:18Excellent article, by far the best thing i’ve read so far on the topic.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:29Mike Ashley should be very wary about ditching KK; if anyone needs to go it’s the Directors who’ve delivered so little.
You don’t take on a fanbase like Newcastle’s and win, and you don’t treat someone regarded as a legend by the vast majority of the fans the way KK has been treated.
Its not Keegan who should go its that annoying dwarf wise. he brings nothing to the club that a good scouting system wouldn’t bring. Do the right thing for once ashley and get rid of the real problem in this club, wise, not keegan
September 2nd, 2008 @ 14:32news coming in that Newcastle and Keegan have parted company. Not good…
September 2nd, 2008 @ 15:49fact of matter…kk has resigned from all managerial jobs when he can’t handle the pressure. not sure aboot fulham but that is the case when he took over newcewcastle the first time and then with england and then with man city and now again with newcastle.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 18:40he is an emotional man who can break down quite easily and when things are not going the way he expects them to go he tries to run away from it all.
NUFC are saying he’s NOT been sacked. To be clear… there is no Board. NUFC is privately owned by Mike Ashley. I guess we’ll know more tomorrow. It’s probably been blown out of all proportion by the press. Time will tell. If he does leave I’ll be gutted. Ashley won’t show him self at SJP again, however, if KK does leave. Ashley knows that and so I think that this is mainly a bunch of hype.
You’re spot on about our ambitions with season Ahmed. Top 10 is what we’re after. KK himself has stated 8th is the goal. We’re not trying to do a Citeh, as much as we’d like all of the money they now have.
So when does the salary cap get implemented? The concept of a Premier League is getting to be a farce. What’s happening is NOT good for the game.
September 2nd, 2008 @ 20:04I predicted at the start this would all end in tears. KK is a nice guy with a lot of charisma but tactically naiive and has only known relative success in management as a ‘chequebook manager’.
Ashley is a pratt. A billionaire and self-confessed fan, why has someone not grabbed this idiot by the throat, slapped him around the head a few times and demanded what his intentions are towards the club i.e. HOW MUCH CASH ARE YOU GOING TO STUMP-UP?
Keegan was foolish not to get very firm commitments from the outset on this, as the only way he was going to get anywhere at Newcastle was with a substantial transfer fund.
Newcastle need new owners before they are going to go anywhere.
September 3rd, 2008 @ 07:01