The Evening Chronicle believes that Kevin Keegan could be back as Newcastle United manager – if Mike Ashley sells out to any of the consortiums who want to buy the club.
Kevin Keegan – spirits lifted by fans and reaction of football world
As we reported last night The Times had a great article out that indeed Newcastle fan and billionaire, Anil Ambani may come back with a higher bid for the club, and he will re-install Kevin Keegan as manager.
Why would he reinstall Keegan? Because he’s not daft, unlike the current regime, who have dropped a massive clanger this week.
Apparently The Chronicle has heard there may be new owners directly from the Keegan camp, and we could believe that there has even been contact with Kevin himself from Anil, though that’s only a supposition from us, and we have no proof of that.
The Chronicle spoke to Keegan last night and, and while he did not talk about his reasons for resigning or plans for the future, he was very upbeat.
It seems that Kevin has been lifted in spirit by the magnificent support he has received from the fans – and not only in Newcastle but throughout the country, from other fans and managers.
We think the public, and not only on Tyneside, has seen the type of play Newcastle are capable of once again under Keegan, and it’s just great to watch. They attack the opposition all the time and their play in similar to that of Brazil – and that’s saying something. They also like to see Kevin on the sidelines, who wears his heart on his sleeve and is seemingly part of every Newcastle move with his body language.
He must be shattered at the end of each game.
The Chronicle say they revealed that Anil Ambani and his Reliance Group, alerted by the current crisis at St James’s Park, have rekindled their interest in buying Newcastle United.
While the billionaire will remain in India, his representatives are reportedly heading to England early next week to attempt a buyout of a Premier League club, with Newcastle United believed to be very high, if not even at the top of their list.
The Chronicle is rightly reporting that Newcastle are on a downward death spiral at the moment, and Keegan even referred to this after the game at Arsenal on Saturday, when he said:
“Once this football club gets on the march it is a pretty strong force, as has been proved in the past.”
“Of course, when it goes backwards it goes backwards at twice the pace and that is the problem.”
But it’s clear that the Newcastle fans’ reactions to the Kevin Keegan resignation is indeed having a significant impact, and maybe even in these days of big business and billionaire owners in football, the real fans actually do count – we’ll find that out very soon.
Comments welcome.
82 comments so far
ERIC CRAMMY MAG
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #1so he should be ,its a sad day for football when you let men of this stature go without a wimper ashley should hang his head in shame
ERIC CRAMMY MAG
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #2whey hey 1st this is where the toon should be ,how did we end upwith the tightest billionaire on the planet ???????
ERIC CRAMMY MAG
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Comment #3is there anybody there ???
Black and White Blood
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #4****Sorry for duplicate post, they don’t appear to be posting – Been trying since Friday morning..!
I’ve said it time and time again, the only thing Ashley will take notice of is a boycott – He’s only here for the money, and if he’s not getting that he will not stay – I am happy to sacrifice games to support the club I love with Tough Love. You supporters are to fickle – FACT! Your scare of missing out on the game, players are big boys and don’t need you there to support them, in fact they are more likely to react negatively towards Ashley.
As a true fan who has followed Newcastle all over the country and Europe all my life, I can honestly say…..I HOPE WE ARE BEATEN BY HULL, so that pressure mounts up on Ashley and Co. Call me what you want, but is how I feel!
As of today, our petition to oust Ashley and Co is well on its way to gathering 4,000 signatures in only three and a half days. At present, the petition is in the top 4 most active petition of over 2000,000 – Ashley I think that speaks for itself, GO!
We as fans must remain united to have any chance of forcing these out.
http://www.petitiononline.com/DWMANUFC/petition.html
simon376
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #5We can only hope the story is true. Most of the football world love Keegan and the way his teams play. We were everybodies 2nd team last time round, everybody including some Sunderland fans enjoyed watching the way the team played. If the story is true and they want to buy us, Keegan is their best option. Lets just hope it will happen
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Comment #6Well, we aren’t facing closure, but I’d say we’re in crisis…
http://www.supporters-direct.org/page.asp?p=2074#
Are Trusts usually formed when a club’s in crisis or facing closure?
Many are, and the most spectacular successes and growth are usually at a club in crisis, where people fear their club could become extinct. That acts as a rallying call, and people make sacrifices that they might normally not make. However, But plenty of clubs aren’t in dire crisis, or even in any crisis at all at the moment. The crisis is the ‘future’ – who knows what tomorrow might bring – new owners, massive debts…
Football is an eventful sport, and clubs rarely have a period of settled calm where nothing serious happens to them. At these types of clubs, the Trust is an insurance policy against that day, should it ever come. If owners change, it’s there to remind the new people that the fans love and care for the club and their interests need to be protected and their voice listened to. They’re also there to be a vehicle to save the club should things go badly wrong, though of course no-one ever wants to see that happening.
King-Habib
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Comment #7The spokesperson for Reliance has today said, regarding Newcastle,
“We have nothing new to say on the matter after denying the link last month”
Toon Chicken
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Comment #8Ed, you’re getting carried away again mate.
Keegan’s win percentage was about 26% and while the performance against Coventry was probably our best during Kev’s ‘second coming’ it certainly wasn’t anything like watching Brazil.
ERIC CRAMMY MAG
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Comment #9keegans gone ,credit crunch , its lashing doon ,petrols through the roof , just popping oot to kill the firstfoot
Black and White Blood
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Comment #10Toon Chicken – I agree with Ed, the improvement was there last season.
http://www.petitiononline.com/DWMANUFC/petition.html
mr_flibbles
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Comment #11This is the only bit of good news for the last week.
There is no way ashley can continue on as owner, he is the most hated person in newcastle along with wise and Llambias. I think Ed should take their pictures down from the site, or maybe do a cameo look alike pictures.
Wise= Gollum
Llambias=count dracula
Ashley=The brain bug from starship troopers.
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #12http://sportal.com.au/Football-opinion-display/private-ownership-ruining-the-epl-56159
Private ownership ruining the EPL
04/09/2008 12:42 PM
Paul Gough
Sportal
This week has highlighted the best and the worst of the private ownership divide that now dominates the English Premier League.
On the one hand Manchester City – the lovable losers of English Football whose last trophy was way back in 1976 – are suddenly dreaming of ending the dominance of the England’s big four of their fierce local rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
And on the other hand West Ham and Newcastle – which like Man City are traditionally big clubs that have fallen further and further behind the big four as the years progress – have just had a reminder of how wealthy private ownership is not all it’s cracked up to be.
The Entertainers
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Comment #13I’ve been a huge critic of the Ronnie Gill and Alan Oliver.
But well done Alan for the article, i just hope the rest of story has substance and the potential take off is not pie in the sky.
Ian
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Comment #14I hope that it happens and Keegan is back in.
Ashley made a complete fool of himself when he floated his company and held the first shareholders meeting, they city couldnt believe what they saw it is reported in all of the business press.
However that is nothing compared to the total mess he has made of operating a football club, he has allowed the highest profile business he owns to be run by an ex-casino manager and a third rate ex footballer turned sometime manager and effectively mocked a very hard working and the only employee he had which added value to his business.
The worst is all of it has been played out in the media right across the World!!
Pictures of him drinking and partying while his business falls apart, no wonder no-one wanted to invest in his club, who would want to go in to partnership with someone like that??
Whatever little reputation he had after his business flotation has gone down the pan along with all of the beer and champagne he regularly drinks, an ex billionaire yob.
seetow
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Comment #15THE KING WILL COME BACK!!! WOOHOO
51times
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Comment #16King-Habib – Well that’s depressing. Hopefully they just want to do everything on the quiet.
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Comment #17Short Term: New owners and a Keegan return would be nice.
Long Term: Billionaire owners who don’t really care about the club are NOT the answer.
Fans should own the club.
graeme
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Comment #18A take over by Anil Ambani would be great news, but, it wont happen ant ANY price. If they offer what they think to be a reasonable price, in their opinion, its still up to Mike Cashley to accept it.
Why would he be willing to sell now?? Well, he’s in deep shit back here, with most of the fans despising the man, but it doesnt seem to be bothering him too much at the moment. In fact he’s sleeping off a $200,000 piss up in New York.
Its already been stated that, because of business comittments, he wont be at SJP for the Hull game. He has clearly shown his contempt for the Players, the Fand and also KK in the way the last 4 days has been handled.
The ONLY way to convince him to sell up and ship out is for the fans to keep up the pressure on MA, his companies and his cronies.
The ONLY thing he seems interested in is MONEY. So, DO NOT buy anything that will give him our money. Boycott buying tickets, food, drink, shirts, sports goods etc etc. ANYTHING to do with any of his intrests needs to be blacklisted.
Thats the only way he will understand the fury he has generated by his total disregard of the fans and the only way to convince him that he will be much better off by severing all connection with our club.
Mike, you aint wanted.
Phil,Gosforth
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Comment #19Pls ED,Take down the pics of MA etc.It makes me irate everytime I come here :S
ObaFan2
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Comment #20Kevin Keegan will always be a true hero here in Newcastle and the North East.
It would be a shame for him to leave football managership for good but that may be the case.
“There’s only ONE KEVIN KEEGAN”
Ashley out !
Simon
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Comment #21Fans owning the club would be ideal, but impossible, as the amount of investment needed to compete with the top teams would run into millions.
It’s typical for Newcastle to be saddled with a scrooge billionaire .
Seems to want to suck every penny out of the club.
How about grazing cattle on the pitch at half time. Save money on lawnmowers and you could charge the farmer.
Oh….and Ashley….you are the worst thing to happen to Newcastle since the Metro started going to Sunderland.
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #22It’s not impossible. It would take hard work, organizing, membership drives and MAD DEVOTION, which we have in excess.
We could do it.
Carthage must be destroyed. And…
Fans Should Own the Club
toonoot
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Comment #23Simon: Or as the mackems say “Hooses on wheels”
simon376
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Comment #24In an ideal world it would be the best thing if fans could own the club, but where would the money come for the players we need to biy come from? There are so many costs that would need to be found and to be honest, unles a lot of very well off fans came about, I just cant see how it would be possible.
Cooper
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #25Fans should own the club
oh yea because we all have ten grand spare dont we eh?
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #26Hope ashley catches something while he’s in these stripper bars!!
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Comment #27Simon & Cooper–it won’t be easy. But it’s possible.
Others have been throwing around numbers to suggest how much we can hurt Ashley by boycotting.
What about re-directing the money we save from boycotting/reduced purchases of Ashley’s products into MEMBERSHIP DUES and INVESTMENT.
I for one can’t afford much, but would you buy a club membership at say 100 pounds per year? What about 50 pounds per year?
I think many would.
Or maybe even different membership levels, means tested. Those who can pay more could do so.
These are all ideas worth talking about.
Bill F Ash Didn't Splash :(
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Comment #28Toon Chicken did you mean to say:-
Ed you are getting curried away? 🙂
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Comment #29Anil Ambani was first linked with the troubled Magpies last month. Then his representative denied the claims and told Goal.com: ” Such reports are false and baseless. There are no such plans.
“Mr. Ambani was laughing and said that the guy who wrote this report should have at least asked him so that he (Ambani) could have said no.”
Now, The Times reports that Mr.Ambani is ready to revive his interest in Newcastle and will hand the just-departed Kevin Keegan, who he reportedly plans to reinstate, a minimum of £100 million to strengthen the squad next summer.
On Saturday, the official spokesperson for Reliance Communications Mr.Gaurav Wahi declined to make an official statement as to whether his company is keen on buying the Premier League Club.
Speaking to Goal.com, he said, “We had declined the link about a month back. So we don’t have anything new to say.”
Sources close to Goal.com have revealed that the club did approach Reliance Communications but the company is not interested.
Rahul Bali
Bill F Ash Didn't Splash :(
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #30By the way from the weather reports it looks like God is shedding tears over the NE at the moment.
DanToon
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #31Anyone think Fat Ashley looks like Bobby out of King of the Hill lol???
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/king-of-the-hill/images/bobby-hill-1.jpg
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #32I got this from the evening chronicle forum!!
Fans are try’n to get organised!!?!
There’s so many people arguing the toss over whether we should or shouldn’t boycott the game, I think we need to at least get this sorted.
I propose again a slow march from central stn leaving at 12pm before the hull game, followed by non-entry to the ground (or at least for the first half).
If anyone has any constructive ideas post them.
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!
LostWords
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Comment #33How much you guys wanna bet that Cashley will ask for a ridiculous amount and refuse to sell for less and ambani ends up buying another club instead?
Fans Should Own the Club
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Comment #34DanToon–yeah, he actually does! That’s quite funny…
An old article on Fan ownership…
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990708/ai_n14257597
Carthage must be destroyed! And…
Fans Should Own the Club.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Comment #35your probably right “lostwords” Hartlepool wont be the only north east place to hang monkeys then!!
MAG PIE
Sep 6, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Comment #36HPS – a march from Central Station is one of the better ideas so far. We wear NUFC tops on the march and we go into the ground as normal for kick off but change into non-NUFC tops. I do not want to boycott the match. If we can hit Ashley in the pocket by not buying merchandise from any of his outlets all the better. I think the march should pass a Sports Direct / World where we may wish to pause for a while!
51times
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Comment #37MAG PIE – Why? That would just be bothering the people who work there, they haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, Fat Ash f*cks them on their wages.
ToonIreland
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Comment #38LostWords, supposedly that has happened already with the crew that bought man city!?
but now the situation has drasticaly(?spelling?) changed, he is is a hated man, his chairman and ‘techical director’ are about as hated as him …
the hatred expressed against him might make him get out of dodge.
If he does sell to this indian crowd then maybe the last few days were worth it!!!
MAG PIE
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Comment #3951times – I’m not suggesting any bother – just some pro Keegan chanting and Blaydon Races etc – no “f off Asley” stuff – don’t want to offend or scare the old ladies and young’uns.
MAG PIE
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Comment #40I’m concerned re late entry to the ground – couldn’t NUFC prevent late entry?
I suggest the march from Central at 1pm – then we enter the ground at 3pm but stay below ground/in the bar area (no purchasing) until half time. We watch the match on the tv’s and if we score we celebrate. Imagine the noise from the bowels of St james while the ground appears to be 1/4 full. Then we emerge for 2nd half.
Any thoughts?