Mike Ashley will face a very unhappy squad if Newcastle United do not succeed in efforts to keep Kevin Keegan at the club.
Mike Ashley – in America – and then off to Barbados
The Daily Mirror is reporting today that Kevin had two meetings with the club’s board yesterday in an attempt to work something out so that he could remain manager.
But it does seem that Kevin’s main problem is that he doesn’t have total control of who comes and who goes on the playing side of things, and we really find that amazing.
If it’s true what has been reported that selling was going on without his knowledge that is just inexcusable and Kevin had every right to walk out.
It also appears that owner Mike Ashley is away on business in America – and he is even planning a holiday in Barbados, but unless this mess at his club is sorted out soon, he should cancel that holiday, that’s for sure.
A friend of Ashley’s said:
“As far as Mike is concerned it’s carry on as usual at Newcastle United.”
Well that’s an amazing statement, and it’s NOT business as usual at Newcastle, we may be a chaotic club, but this is not the norm.
News is also filtering through that Kevin is very keen to stay at the club, and make it all work.
But also news that some of the Newcastle players are shocked at the crisis at the club, and some are describing it as a shambles, and there will certainly be great unrest among the players should Kevin leave.
It’s clear that players were upset after learning yesterday that Keegan himself was informed that any of them could be sold on Monday.
It appears that Keegan’s future hinges now on repairing his shattered relationship with chairman Derek Llambias. But who is Llambias? One of Ashley’s cohorts who has no experience in football management, so one thing we’d suggest is that Mike replace Derek – he’s hardly an important figure on the Newcastle board, let’s face it.
And it’s going to be very difficult to have Dennis Wise in a similar role he was in – without Kevin in some way directing him what to do.
Newcastle legend Chris Waddle said:
“It was easy for Ashley to bring in Kevin as it was a popular choice with the fans, and he knew he couldn’t go wrong with that.”
“But Kevin is very strong willed and he’ll have thought, ‘If I am to get this team back to where I left it, in the top four, I’ll need to invest lots of money’. He needed people to back him like the former owner Sir John Hall did.”
And ever popular Sir Les Ferdinand chipped in yesterday with these words:
“The first time round, Kevin had total control of the club. People did what he wanted them to do. It was Kevin Keegan’s club.
“This time, it seems very different. I’ve just seen that enthusiasm wane because he doesn’t have that control.”
His players, past and present always support Kevin, and that shows you the influence he has on his players and the squad. It’s little mystery why he always seems to get the very best out of them.
The club must get this sorted out as soon as possible, and then tell it’s customers, the fans, what happened, and how we are going to move forward as a club, with whatever new organization structure they come out with.
Please make it sooner rather than later.
Comments welcome.
309 comments so far
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #281Martin at least you have a sense of humour!!
sean667
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #282colo dm interesting
sean667
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #283you sure colo didnt p*ss off like the czech nob when he found out he was dm
sean667
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #2842 blogs my head hurts im migrating to the other one
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Comment #285which airport would the little fat b£st$rd be landing at? we could kidnap him, until he sells the club!?
Micky Toon
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #286You know, the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. We are constantly told Wise is there to recruit young uns and nothing else. Let’s believe that is 100% true for a moment and think about why KK is so upset.
KK is apparently miffed because he doesn’t have control over the 1st team. Wise doesn’t have anything to do with the 1st team, KK wouldn’t walk because he didn’t think the 17 year old that Wise recruited was a duffer. It’s got to be down to Jiminez or a combination of Jiminez and a.n. other. Jiminez(I’ve probably spelt that wrong four times now!) IS involved with the 1st team and has bought in 1st team players. Perhaps Jiminez also thought he could decide who left the 1st team as well as who he brought in. KK says “Hold on fella, I don’t think so” Then is all kicks off.
Doesn’t that make the most sense? It is all speculation, but it seems to make more sense than MA sacking a man he tried to get twice and a poisoned dwarf who is in charge of the kids muck in about.
Also agree with hitman, I said earlier that KK cannot walk away due to the clause in his contract and KK is on his arse at the moment, he needs the money.
Born Again Geordie
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Comment #287HPS – is havinga sense of humour not a reqisite part of following the toon ? lol 🙂
Davies
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Comment #288Gentlemen
We all have our differences, but there is one thing we have in common, our love for NUFC.
Nothing has been confirmed by the club, Keegan or Ashley yet. We are all at each other’s throats over a situation that NONE of us understand.
NOBODY on this site, or any other, is in full possession of the facts.
Can we please all wait until everything has been explained by somebody in the know before we start running up petitions, organising protests and more importantly, falling out with each other.
The only thing I want at this moment in time is answers. There’s nothing else we can do to speed up this process. Let’s just be patient.
We’re in this together. Let’s not be divided by speculation, rather, let’s be UNITED in our support.
MMNUFC
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Comment #289Why do we still no nothing? why do we still have no comment from Keegan? Whay is it we are again the laughing stock of British football?
Again as Newcastle United fans we are left with more question then answers and in this case no answers. The only way this situation can or will be resolved is by Mike ashley making one of two choices, he can either back Kevin Keegan and give him his full support by making what ever changes Keegan wants or he backs who ever it is Keegan has the problem with and Keegan leaves.
One thing that Mr Ashley can be assured of though is that if Kevin Keegam leaves this football club the fans will react and not in a positive way. We have been pushed and pushed in the past seeing our clubs name dragged throught the gutter and i can assure him that this will be the straw that brakes the camels back and he will be driven out of the club.
There will be no downing pints with the away fans, no drinking in the big market or in the bulls before the game, there will be no welcome mat for him only mistrust and anger.
There can only be one outcome for the good of this club, if keegan leaves i dread to think what the clubs immediate future will be.
Born Again Geordie
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Comment #290Davies – here here !!!!!
Black and White Blood
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #291little willie or should I say Big Dick – What did your mum dad buy you a season ticket for Christmas sweetheart, more then likely you’ve never been to the match prior to Keegan’s arrival – You are nothing more that wannabe true fan….you never will be dear, oh but I do love you xxx
Black and White Blood
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Comment #292little willie – I love you xxxxxxxx
…Will you be my sweetheart..?
Phil,Gosforth
Sep 4, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Comment #293I find it strange that people are giving Keegan sh*t on here tbh.Aye,you,Little Willie.
KK has been silent,so how can you slag him off for airing our dirty linen in public.KK went missing,club could have said owt – taking a short holiday,illness,anything.All they said,late in the day,was ” It isn’t our fault “.
As for a “few teenagers” getting upset not gonna bother him,think again.Football isn’t like most businesses.In most,you make a bit of money off a lot of people.Opposite in football.If he pisses off a small percentage of the paying customers enough so they won’t pay,then he’s losing a lot of money.
I don’t think you would want those who disagree with you in the stands @ Hull game,those steps would hurt your head m8.
We know nowt because of the way the club DOESN’T communicate with the fans.
If there is an argument going on that we know little about and it’s between some cockneys or someone who obviously loves this club,I’m siding with the bloke who loves us!
Come in No 37
Sep 4, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Comment #294I am desperately trying not to believe any of this media hype surrounding the situation up at Sid James’ Park, but it is hard when the club are keeping us in the dark. And then when they do release a statement it is limited and cryptic.
We need this sorted and quick, we have the Hull match fast approaching and the carling cup game with Spurs. This could destroy our season at such an early stage!
Ashley, if he is indeed in yank land, needs to get his arse back here ASAP and sort this out.
jude
Sep 4, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Comment #295The club has put out two statements and yet we choose to believe the tabloids and keep on speculating aba what happened and what didn’t happen.
As far as i’m concerned the could be more to this than we all think…fine he’s the Geordie messiah but have u stop to consider for just a sec that maybe, just maybe, KK might have been in the wrong?
Why has KK of all people failed to say anything so far? its not as if he’s lost his freedom of expression.
When you say business as usual..it means…go on with training…go on we keepin the grounds..mowin the lawns…doin whateva is done everyday to keep the club goin..
Ashley himself doesn’t need to be here to solve all issues..that is even if we are to believe he is in america and thinkin aba a holiday…there is a director of football in Wise and a managing director in DL…they can sort out issues with kk, the manager (managing players at NUFC)…
the Club is bigger than anyone of these…if at anytime anyone of ’em is fed, and that includes KK, they can f*** off for all i care.
ashleys a wanker
Sep 4, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #296talking to my m8 the day and we think that about 10 thousand fans or so should ring up the box office and enqiure about getting refund on thier season tickets if keegen is sacked. THIS MAY WORRY ASHLEY INTO KEEPING KEEGEN ND GETTING ID OF WISE
any1 else think this could work or not
Phil,Gosforth
Sep 4, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Comment #297I believe a manager should have the right to pick who plays for his team.
If the set-up we have @ the moment doesn’t allow this,then that is detrimental to our football club.
If any other manager was here,in the same situation,I would think the same.
It’s only worse because we know how much KK loves us and how much we love him and believe he can take us where we wanna be.
yemenal
Sep 4, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Comment #298You Geordies are insane. How many times does Keegan have to quit before you realise he isnt God? He knew what the set up (regarding Wise, transfers etc) was going to be before he signed, no doubt thinking that his stature at the club would get him whatever he wanted despite what he was being told. When the penny drops that they actually meant it, he walks out in a hissy fit again. Really, you’re better off without him. Your biggest problem is no English manager will work under those conditions, if thats how it has to be, you need to get a european coach in whos used to it and gets on with the job instead of waging war against the man paying his salary.
Phil,Gosforth
Sep 4, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Comment #299yemenal-Was Wise here before KK signed?No.
So it seems you are the insane one.
Toon_Phil
Sep 4, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #300What does everyone think about Alan Olivers reports about Anil Ambani launching a take over when his representitives come to England on Monday?
neeraj
Sep 4, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Comment #301the club needs to come out in open and say what the hell is happening and keegan, coz he is the man we trust…..
not go off for stupid holiday or something…
Dondatta13
Sep 4, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Comment #302KK HAS RESIGNED AS MANAGER …..
Just been on BBC Look North
GUTTED
Ashley Out
ToonIreland
Sep 4, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Comment #303does any one else feel like they just dont know any more?
I for one could do with a statement from keegan and the club to clarify the situation.
if he is still our manager, sack who he wants sacking(ahum, taxi mr’s wise and llambias) and get on with it …. if he is gone and they are arguing about money ….agree a package … get the next man in , sack who needs sacking(ahum, taxi mr’s wise and llambias), and get on with it!!!
we are the laughing stock of the country …
ToonIreland
Sep 4, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Comment #304just seen on several sites…… KEEGAN RESIGNED FOR REAL THIS TIME
happy toon
Sep 4, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Comment #305WISE IS HAVING A LAUGH RIGHT NOW….HE’S GONNA DO A ‘LEEDS’ WITH US THAN …GO FU*K SOME OTHER CLUB…..I SPEECHLESS…I’M FEELING SICK….WHAT ARE GONNA DO….WHOS BETTER FOR NECASTLE THAN KK!
Grh Bell
Sep 4, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Comment #306Keegan has resigned, so the only option we have now is Alan Shearer ! He would be the only person who can see this period through and steady the ship.
P****d-off
Sep 4, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Comment #307Whole country laughin at us!!!!! Would love to see the ground packed to the rafters for the Hull game. A wall of noise, scarf’s waving showing the world how we feel about the club. As soon as the whistle goes to start the game we all leave and show them how we feel about the cockney wanka’s who run OUR CLUB!!!!!!!!!
john
Sep 5, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Comment #308Have to look forward! Getting ashley out will not bring kev back-with that in mind-and the fact he has stabilised our club and paid off our debt out of his own arse pocket-is Avram Grant and Zola really a bad option-or Poyet?Claudio Ranieri also done good at chelsea-i think the fans are usin wise as a scapegoat ide like to bet when the facts come out keegan would not compramise-its not dennis’s fault that ashley made him director of football-is it? all he done was his job-done well as far as we can see too-so easy to point the blame-lets see the hard facts as the week goes on-yes ashley is to blame but he bought the club and seems to be good at what he does-when the fans calm down and the dust settles-someone has to be manager even if its only until they force ashley out-so why let the team suffer? why not try n win the lot! u never know we mite even threaten the top 4 with Grant n co! Rioting and unrest will only give the media what it wants-lets think of the players-they need our support and a new boss!
Paul
Sep 5, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Comment #309“I don’t think you would want those who disagree with you in the stands @ Hull game,those steps would hurt your head m8…”
Phil,Gosforth
Phil, that’s pathetic. Grow up!