Big Problems at Newcastle United
Chaos Continues at St James' Park as Owner Wants Out
No manager, the owner wants to sell up and the long suffering faithful are in uproar – the Newcastle United soap opera continues to air.
And just when the suffering supporters thought things couldn’t get any worse, the team fall to a 2-1 home defeat to relegation favourites Hull City and are knocked out of the Carling Cup by Tottenham Hotspur four days later in front of only 20,517 at St. James' Park.
However, only eight months ago things on Tyneside were so different.
KEVIN KEEGAN APPOINTED MANAGER
The “messiah” Kevin Keegan returned, and fans believed he would bring the good times back to Newcastle United. They were convinced that “King Kev” would get the best out of an overpaid crop of players playing nowhere near their capabilities and propel the Toon Army to the heights of the Premier League.
The former England manager claimed that he would get Newcastle to at least fifth place in the 2008/09 season, a statement that brought excitement and expectation back to a giant craving success.
Yet, in all honesty, his second homecoming was more or less over on the 14th day of his reign.
For on the morning of January 29, 2008, billionaire owner Mike Ashley announced that Dennis Wise, who played under Keegan for England, would be leaving his role as Leeds United manager to take up the unique role of Newcastle executive director of Football. Businessman Tony Jiminez would work alongside Wise as director of player recruitment, while Jeff Vetere was appointed technical co-ordinator.
Keegan admitted he did not know that Wise would be appointed. The tide turned and the vision of success and trophies was swapped for tension and civil war.
KEEGAN’S DOWNFALL
After losing at home to Chelsea, Keegan admitted it would be impossible for his side to challenge the top four and stated his side were “a million miles” away from being anywhere near challenging for the title.
A furious Mike Ashley hauled Keegan in for a meeting with many believing that the two-time European Footballer of the Year would come out of the encounter jobless. However, Keegan was encouraged with the talks and would stay on Tyenside for at least the next three seasons he said.
Chairman Chris Mort, deputy chairman Derek Llambias, Wise and Jiminez were ordered to draw up plans for summer signings.
It was this instruction that would eventually force Keegan to leave a job he felt he was no longer in control of – saying “a manager must have the right to manage”.
The 57-year-old bemoaned signing players that he did not want but were taken out of his hands anyway.
That could be any out of Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Collicini, Nacho Gonzalez or Xisco who were all brought to the club in the summer transfer window.
MILNER JOINS ASTON VILLA
Nevertheless, the sale of winger James Milner to Aston Villa for £12 million could well have been the final nail in the coffin for Keegan.
He had reiterated that Milner was the last player the club would be getting rid of, only to see the 22-year-old move to Villa Park 13 days later.
Much like Alan Curbishley’s unmanageable position at West Ham due to the politics of the club, Keegan cut his losses and cleared his desk on September 4.
NEWCASTLE FOR SALE
Furious fans have vented their anger since that day and Ashley has agreed to sell to the right buyer. The question now is – who in their right mind would want to manage a club that is up for sale?
The names of David O’Leary, Gerard Houllier and even former manager Kenny Dalglish have all cropped up but Ashely is nowhere near and perhaps never will be to finding a suitable replacement for the iconic Keegan.
A Nigerian consortium is believed to have approached the board at St James’ Park with a view to taking control of the club for £350million, but the deal is far from being complete.
Until then, Ashley will have to endure the wrath of the Newcastle support while they continue to hope that one day the good times will return to this hurting goliath.
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