The London Evening Standard is reporting today that Kevin Keegan has begun legal proceedings against the Tyneside club demanding full payment of his three-and-a-half-year contract.
Kevin Keegan – suing Newcastle for 3 years of wages
When Keegan signed the deal last January, which we understand was for £3M a year, he was given full control of first team affairs, but Keegan believes that Dennis Wise’s role as Director of Football infringed upon the terms of that agreement, and that finally made his position untenable at the club.
The final day transfers of Xisco and Ignacio Gonzalez are thought to have been the last straw for Keegan, and he subsequently resigned from the club.
Ashley did try to save the situation with Keegan in a bid to resolve the dispute but no solution was reached. Joe Kinnear, the former Wimbledon manager, has since been appointed interim manager while the club look for new owners.
But this is now an interesting situation because no buyers would want to buy Newcastle with this hanging over their heads, and it looks like this deal may well be settled out of court, especially if the new owners want to restore Kevin Keegan as their new manager.
Either way we would be surprised if this finally goes to court, and Kevin can expect some resolution before December.
What do you think about this?
Comments very welcome, but please keep then decent – thanks.
124 comments so far
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Comment #1He walked, we owe him NOWT.
Chris F
Oct 14, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Comment #2walked, pushed, jumped, it matters not.
if the terms of his contract were changed or infringed upon as a result other appointments the club made, then they broke the contract first, not him, so he’d be entitled to walk.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Comment #3Contract or verbal agreement?
Again, we don’t really know, do we?
ryan peacock
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Comment #4hope he gets all he can out of ashley!
i either want keegan or hiddink as new manager when the takeover happens!
although IF joe stays unbeaten till then surely he has to be a contender?
ascot7
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Comment #5Kevin is right to claim damages, he was placed in charge of Newcastle’ and was then undermined by Wisey !,,And Ashley laughed it off. Very sad indeedy. Kevin has a good case if it went to court, so if Ashley stays in football, he would of learned his lesson, to many chiefs, not enough indians.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Comment #6Out of us man.
This is just gonna make MA selling the club a bit more difficult.
You can’t have it both ways.
No return for KK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Comment #7£3mil pretty much means any position is tenable. If he was going to resort to the court room he should have done it before walking.
Kash
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Comment #8If Keegan wins the £9m will he donate some to the transfer kitty?
Shearerbliss
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Comment #9If KK really cared about the club and its fans he would not be holding the sale of the club to ransom for his money. He walked and for 3mill a year I bet many of these fans on this site would have bit the bullet and continued in the job. For GS he did not even work with the players offered therefore I can not belive he gave judgement on players before even seeing them in training over a period of time (Mr Motivator)! If it did not work out after 18months than resign with 4.5mill in pocket. I really hope this story is not true because if it is KK goes down in my opinon.(I know you fans would hate me for that)
I think if this is true he should NEVER come back as coach! He would have lost faith with myself and other fans that think like me, lost faith in the players he has not even given a chance to and discourage the youth in the team as he for one IS bigger than the club which has been proven over the last few months so what chance do they have of empressing a quiter.
We should save the money fight him in court and use that money to secure MO!
No return for KK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #10Clint is right. If this is true Keegan is slowing up any sale of the Club. If he thought he was really going to be brought back as our manager by a new owner why would he do that?
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Comment #11Aye, if KK does this, he’ll have gone down in my opinion too.
& he can go piss up a rope.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Comment #12But alas,
this is all press bullshit, designed to derail the sale of the club.
It stinks of their decaying stench.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #13Ta, no return for KK.
Shearerbliss
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #14Ryan that 9mill is not out of Ashley it is out of the fans, it will be included in the sell on price! Under no circumstances I feel KK had the right to walk out, I bet it was the smallest technicallities which he bitched about and triggered this downfall.
KK in my opinion is not welcomed back in SJP and any new owner will lose my respect right away if this happens. We need to look forward now not with weak owners giving in to fickle fans reminising on pass glories. FFS we are in 2008!
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Comment #15Well said ShearerBliss.
skin d
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Comment #16kk holding up the selling of the club over,9 mil?
get a grip.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Comment #17Antone else with those views.
Grow a brain.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #18Anyone.
Der.
KevinHann
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #19I am sick of such die-hard fans who support the club with all the passion in the world and no mind at all.
Keegan was, bar his legendary status, basicly an employee at Newcastle. As such he had certain obligations and rights – as every other worker. His obligations included taking responsibility for the results on the pitch. His rights clearly should (and obvioulsy were promised to Kevin when he signed) give him the opportunity to be responsible, and they clearly DID NOT.
Now for all those smartheads who think Keegan walked on us and committed the ultimate sin, think about what would have happened IF Kevin had remained onboard. He would have been humiliated both on and off the pitch by the sabotage crew of Dennis Wise, not allowing him to buy the players he needed to make a complete side (and we aren’t talking about Henry and Kaka here, we talk about a Left Back, for Christ’s sake! How many teams leave a hole in their lineups!?)
Most likely he would have been forced to scrap a decent side out of the remains after a massive wage-cut exodus – not build one, scrap one out of the nothing.
This would have lead to Newcastle losing a lot of games like we lost vs Arsenal. Due to Kevin’s man management skills, we would have finished comfortably above the relegation zone, but definitely out of the top 6, probably out of the top 10.
Don’t forget Keegan had a target set for him by his superiors – European qualification. He took that responsibility by talking about it in front of the fans.
So what happened? Unrealistic target by the board, decent as quality of the players, but poor as a team side, lack of communication in the club hierarchy. Keegan has been misguided. He didn’t come to steady the ship, and the more important thing, HE WASN’T TOLD he was in for that!
What do you do if you are a household football player and go to play abroad, sign a big contract and are promised a first team place, and then you don’t even make it to the bench for the first 10 games of the season? Would you just train hoping that the coach notices you?
Now add this to the example: you haven’t been played for 10 games and then the coach plays you. You have lost your match fitness and don’t score a hattrick, your side loses. The fans get on your back – he is a big signing, he doesn’t play, he doesn’t score when he does, he is a ****er.
Add to this: the coach gets annoyed with you and gives you a stern telling, instead of encouraging you and showing his support both personally and in the media.
Add to this: your coach is Alan Oliver.
How much do you have to love your club to stay in it in this situation?
Wouldn’t you express true feelings if you openly refuse to participate in any farce going on in it?
Wouldn’t you be a true Magpie if you act so that the situation is RESOLVED?
What all those Keegan-is-a-walker passionate, but mindless fans fail to perceive here is that Kevin actually CATALISED the freaking change of ownership which we ALL AGREE IS FOR THE GOOD!
Now those who will say you don’t sue Newcastle if you love it will fail to see you may sue those harming Newcastle OUT OF THE CLUB and do a good thing. For the sake of our beloved club, THINK before you talk!
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #20Yes, i’m getting the growbag out as we speak.
skin d
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Comment #21so clint,shearbliss,who is going to take over as the new manager? i,ll tell you who absolutley no one.
no decent manager will take the job full stop.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Comment #22Git bolshy yarbles.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #23You do it mate.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #24Well, lets see who buys the club first & try & stop trying to second guess every frigging move.
Steve
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #25Habits die hard. KK has a history of walking out so I don’t believe we owe him anything. We all work with difficult people but you can still have a working relationship with them in those difficulties, something which KK should have tried to do, for the players sake at least. I for one do not want him back. We should be moving forward into a new era not going back for history to repeat it’s self all over again.
skin d
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #26i,ll meet you with chain or noz or britva anytime.
CLINT FLICK
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #27Nice one. 😀
jules
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Comment #28Lets be clear he is not suing Ashley but NUFC, this can only hurt the club. I am a little disappointed in Keegan if this is true.
simon376
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #29Well said KevinHann, great to see some sense there!!!
Born Again Geordie
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Comment #30Its the LONDON evening standard therfore is probably made up ! Ignore it !!! move on
Chris
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Comment #31Rubbish. Keegan is trying to take the club to the cleaners. Ashley regardless, you don’t get compensation money when you walk out. He’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty boy. I certainly wouldn’t want him back.
skin d
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Comment #32not havin you aiming tolchocks at me reasonless,it stands to reason i wont have it.
skin d
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Comment #33keegan wont be doing this man, it is feckin paper taalk.
Chris
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Comment #34Keegan basically thinks he can do 8 months, walk and then get 9m?
Paul
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Comment #35“But this is now an interesting situation because no buyers would want to buy Newcastle with this hanging over their heads, and it looks like this deal may well be settled out of court, especially if the new owners want to restore Kevin Keegan as their new manager.”
LOL! How many sane owners would want Keegan hanging over their heads again? He could drag the deluded out to destroy their precious investment all over again at the drop of a hat.
Dave
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Comment #36If Keegan does this then it shows signs that he’s in this for the money and not interested in what is best for the club.
It would also mean to me that he is not going to be coming back as manager, how could you claim the next 3 years of wages and then sign a new contract for the same period???
I hope this is just paper talk as I for one want Keegan back but not if he’s more interested in filling his bank balance than what is best for this club.
Shearerbliss
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #37K Hann lovely but you are missing one thing out if I was a player how could you get a contract promising you first team football. Only a div of a manager would promise that! as a team we play for each other, you must perform in training to get a CHANCE to play on sat. As a job and a pro YES I would train if I wasn’t getting played hence why you signed. If you want to be comfortable in any job just sit on your ass, but if you want to make something out of your life you MUST take risks. But as you said a BIG contract there for you are getting PAID ANYWAY!
Secondly you can get into europe other than finishing 5th look at man city fair play, cup competions etc. So you need a bit more intligence in the game now.(I hate to say this but this is were Big Sam is a far better coach for the modern game than NUFC fans gave him cridit for!)
So in short KK IS a quitter, I do not always like my job, my job does not always go by it’s contract with me and things do change commercially and finacially at work BUT because I am in the real world and would never see that type of money in my LIFE I MUST WORK! NO BITCHING!
I would have not walked I would have bit the bullet say boys we have not got a LB but crack on we have a season to play for. We have kids who we could blood in, we have Bassong who can play mulitiple positions, we have Enrique and zog could fill in. Lets go attack this leaugue and show we can work as a team even if I do not like it. MA and DW are not the enemy! I do not here JK complaining and other teams in the Prem see us as an advantage off the field not on it.
PS his walk out did not start the change the fans did! He had given up when we played Chelski at the last home game of the season saying we were not good enough (Mr. Motivator! Ha Ha)
Paul
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Comment #38As I wrote in an earlier post, Keegan is going for out of court settlement. He knows that he has little chance if it goes to law.
The holey grail
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Comment #39I dont understand how when a story comes out about “King” kev (wanting money from us THE REAL FANS, not MA) everyone says its the london press he wouldnt do that, yet every time some one had something bad to say about ashley where did you hear it. . . . .London press,
so you belive it when you want to it doesnt make sence. money speaks louder than words in football, us newcastle fans should know that more than most with the amount we have waisted. KK doesnt care about newcastle, he is a mediocer manager at best proved by man city and fulham job, i for 1 will be glad when we move on from re-living the past and move on to the future who ever that may be.
Nick
Oct 14, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Comment #40If true and it’s a big if, it lends credibility to the rumours that Kk’s departure was contrived and manufactured for just such a scenario. Eg Kk’s business is failing and he was 2m in the hole.