After Kevin Keegan left Newcastle in September of 2008, after just nine months in charge in his second management stint, and then sued Newcastle in court for wrongful dismissal, we didn’t expect Kevin and Mike Ashley to be bosum buddies.
Kevin Keegan with Chris Hughton and Terry McDermott in 2008
And it’s really not surprising that Kevin isn’t too happy with the way Mike Ashley is running the club, after Kevin was essentially double crossed when Dennis Wise was allowed to bring in players in the summer of 2008 that Kevin knew nothing about.
Kevin has given an interview to Sky Sports and he’s been interviewed by cricketer Steve Harmison:
“I got a phone call from Terry Mac, I was up in Glasgow and he said ‘They’d like to talk to you’.” “I went down to talk to them.” “I quite liked Mike Ashley.”
“I thought ‘Yeah, this could be good’.” “But no – it was a nightmare, an absolute living nightmare.” “In the end it isn’t easy to win a court case or take a club to court.”
“But I didn’t see it as being Newcastle, I saw it as Mike Ashley, Dennis Wise, a guy called Jimenez and Derek Llambias.” “The Newcastle club now has no interest on that side, the fans, the team.”
“And we talk about it a lot through all my friends and the ex-players I know.” “Until they leave that football club, it has no interest for me.” “They are not that football club.” “They are just the custodians who are in for a few years.”
“It might be five, 10 or six.” “But Newcastle United will go on after Mike Ashley.” “I think the answer to whether I would ever return to Newcastle is, you never know.” “Football clubs are about people.”
“When Sir John Hall rang me and said ‘The two people who can save this club are the ones talking to each other now’, you thought wow.” “That is a simple thing to say.” “But actually that’s all you need.
“People say ‘Never go back’.” “But I did go back.”
It’s not only football that’s all about people but that’s what life itself is all about – so be kind to your fellow readers with your comments 😀
It’s always difficult when managers have had a successful career at a club and then return – and usually it’s much harder the second time around – and for various reasons that’s what Kevin found out at Newcastle in 2008.
We’ll see how a certain Jose Mourinho does with his second stint at Chelsea.
That season we ended up getting relegated and it was a catastrophe and the lowest point Newcastle had been in many many years.
We essentially had five managers in charge that season – Kevin, Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Alan Shearer.
The good news was that thanks to Chris Hughton and players like Coloccini, Harper, Nolan, Butt and others, Newcastle regrouped and came straight back up in triumph from the Championship.
But then in December of 2010 Hughton was fired – after all his good – make that great work for the club.
And Newcastle are now at another cross-roads this summer – and will we come storming back next season, or will we continue to be mediocre?
We are hoping it’s the former.
What do you think?
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88 comments so far
Sazzer
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Comment #1“I’d prefer them to go down a little bit more of a British route. When we signed five French guys in the January window, I didn’t know any of them.
How could he not have known at least Debuchy is beyond me.
We have had plenty of british and locals playing this year. No less than any other team. Our best team might not have that many in it but that because we can afford the best english players and to be fair not that many cut it on the highest level anyway.
Ginger
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Comment #2Chris Hughton was such a canny bloke.
Newcastle Brown Alien
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Comment #3I hate all this stuff when they interview an old manager and they say how it was a nightmare, what are they trying to do, tarnish the name of the club, I hope not, fair enough you had a bad stint and everything was terrible, but talking about the times X amount of years after is just unnecessary, the season KK was in charge and was sacked was a disaster, no bones about it, we got relegated, but now when the club is on the up (hopefully), journalists have to go into the past and interview our old managers. This then makes newcastle a terrible place to be a manager, and should pardew leave, how will we attract a good manager with all of these interviews and articles?
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Comment #4Bosom. No ‘u’ in there,
Regards,
Grammar Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.
Sack Llambias
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #5Ibizatoon
Ha ha! Rings a bell we’ve know had
Martinez and Laudrup guilty of Pardew
type comments which make sense to
any fan who knows football. Mind you
Laudrup is going overboard in looking
for £ 200 million. In the Europa the
playing on a Thursday does not help.
As with players you need more than
one season to assess. I reckon Martinez
and Laudrup could be found out this
season with other clubs after their
better players. Just wish I felt
comfortable with our man handling
of transfers. Like to see some dealing
part exchange deals but that needs
imagination. Maybe a call to Harry
Redknapp!
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Comment #6repost
iv’e never known a billionaire chairmen to be afraid of spending money IMO i think he bought the french lads for this season so he won’t need to buy any now, just like his SD empire he’s using cheap foreign ppl to keep his business running, out of all the millionaire & billionaires out there MA must be a laughing stock.
i just hope some 1 gets on the phone to Sir Richard Branson and plead to him to buy our club
SupaToonKid
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Comment #7All the pundits, ex players and so-called experts seem to not have a clue about what their talking about. They always take an easy option and blame Newcastle’s failure this season on too many French/foreign players – have they not seen that the majority of them are in and around their national side’s squad? It’s as if they’re determined not to pin a blame on the real culprits: Pardew, Ashley, Llambias, the coaches and medical team because they’re BRITISH! The simple fact is Newcastle have got some fantastic players and good back up players, some potentially good youngsters and a great scouting set up but the ridiculously poor coaching, management and medical section is hampering player’s progression, ability and fitness. This is all to be topped up by Ashley and Llambias failing to show ambition and upgrade the staff to match the players and scouts ability. A long struggle ahead seems likely, unless there are big changes this summer to the staff and 2 wingers, a forward or 2 and CB are acquired. Looks like the struggle it is.
On the Dries Mertens link. This is the left winger I’ve been drooling over for the past couple of years and craved for the Toon to sign. A fantastic player with ability to score, assist and take on a man + a great set piece specialist. Unfortunately he’ll likely have a price tag between £10-15M; well worth it in my opinion but it’s unlikely to appeal to Ashley’s shrewd business mind. Even if it did happen, Pardew would suck the attacking zest out of his play and turn him into another Jonas.
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:36 AM
Comment #8lads maybe the great KK is sending the message to MA to run this club the proper way not the cheap way.
as we all know you got to spend money to make money but it seems though that MA doesn’t know this concept and soon he will face the wrath of his empire falling down into bankruptcy and losing his empire, and who’s fault is it? HIS OWN.
low fell mag
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Comment #9Keegan , always likes to knock Ashley and sings the praises of Sir John
Did Sir john not get shot of him the first time round,and, as well sell the club to Ashley while ,his friend and business partner was lying in a hospital bed at the time.
Great bloke,
tenpointnine
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Comment #10Tsunki // Jun 6, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Bosom. No ‘u’ in there,
Regards,
Grammar Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.
I think you have missed a ‘comma’ there!
Surely it is ‘Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.’
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate Police.
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Comment #11SupaToonKid
i think Newcastle only have 2 scouts this just shows how un-ambitious we are
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Comment #12i think the coaching at our club is very low for instant
Assistant 1
GK 1
youth GK 2
1st team coaches 2
youth coaches 2
1st team fitness coach 1
youth fitness 2
physio 3
youth physio 1
it just shows that we haven’t enough coaches compare to other teams like Man u/city, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs & Arsenal
Tommyy
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:49 AM
Comment #13I think we’ve been underestimating the sides around us and their ambition and improvement.
Villa will not be in the same predicament next season, they’ve have their kick up the arse and they will be fighting for top 8/10 next year and will strengthen (even if they do lose Benteke).
Sunderland will most certainly be stronger and will be looking for that top 10, and they have an ambitious manager who will bring players in he knows can compete.
West Brom were strong this season and I expect them to continue in the same vain.
Southampton showed a little improvement and I expect them to be pushing for top 12.
Norwich will work hard but I still think their overall squad is weak, as is the case with Fulham.
I honestly think if we don’t buck up, we’ll be battling around 15th with Fulham and Norwich and possibly West Ham, especially when we get our customary injuries. I have bad feelings for the coming campaign, I really do.
ITUNDERASHELL
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Comment #14Torq,
Any developments regarding possible transfers from Holland and Spain mate?
fergies left foot
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Comment #15morning! anyone got some positive transfer news? dont care if it’s genuine, as long as it has some made up substance and makes sense! cheers.
whats on your wishlist anyway? talks about mertens and valbuena got me dreaming but considering alan pardew is a vampire who feeds on attacking creativity, imagination and ambition i would think most of my options are hiding away somewhere safe.
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Comment #16Tommyy
mate don’t forget the teams that have been promoted from the championship they will bust balls to stay in the premier league and get as high as possible maybe 14th-10th
marc
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Comment #17repost@David B’s Toon
just to inform you when we played man u and won 3-0
we played shola and ba and all we did all game was hoof it to them dont get me wrong the tacticks were spot on and our front boyz played a blinder but to say there were no long balls is incorrect
marc
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Comment #18repost @Black and White with an army lol
i agree he would make a great owner
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Comment #19i wish i could win the Euro’s millions iv’e always wanted to buy shares in Newcastle and then eventually buy the club
marc
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:01 PM
Comment #20Black and White with an army lol
how much is it now lol
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Comment #21sportinglife
‘Alan Pardew is most likely to be the first Premier League manager to lose his job next season, according to Sky Bet.’
like hell he will according to DL if AP doesn’t reach 10th or above he will get the sack, so what happens if we finished 11th? i can guarantee he will still be here
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Comment #2210tenpointnine // Jun 6, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Tsunki // Jun 6, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Bosom. No ‘u’ in there,
Regards,
Grammar Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.
I think you have missed a ‘comma’ there!
Surely it is ‘Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.’
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate Police.
Surely you mean “Surely it is ‘Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate.’?”
You appear to have fallen into the punctuation trap I set for you. Schoolboy error.
Regards,
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Inspectorate Police (Internal Audit Division).
😀
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Comment #23marc
no idea mate but i won £10 2 weeks ago maybe put this into the shares to get me started lol
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Comment #24KK rhyming on about his treatment at the hands of his erstwhile employer does no favours for the club’s image. You had your compo, and we have all moved on, stop perpetuating the circus, Kev, and we might just make progress.
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Comment #25can any 1 give me a sub of about 500 million? i promise i’ll pay back about £20 a month 😉
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Comment #26Black and white…How about Wonga?
Sack Llambias…Redknapp? Oh dear 🙂
Black and White with an army lol
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #27Ibizatoon – Back By Popular Demand
i tried mate but i couldn’t afford to pay 1 billion a month
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Comment #28Black and White…Could you not take out another monthly loan to pay back the original loan and so on? Can’t see where it would go wrong and if you did fall short, I’m sure with their toon connections they’d be understanding…
toonincheek
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Comment #29“We essentially had five managers in charge that season – Kevin, Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Alan Shearer”
.
Errrr . ?
Oh yes – JK had a split personality.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #30Carlton Cole having a medical tomorrow.
According to my sauce.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #31Belfast…You know that pitchfork you have in your garden shed?
Poke it where the sun don’t shine.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Comment #32Haven’t watched the second part of that Keegan programme yet, but the first part was very good.
Belfast
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #33I don’t have a garden shed.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #34🙂
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #35Oh for crying out loud he’s here……
Graeme
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #36Ibiza – lend him some of the loot from your Ashley Greggs fund mate – There will be more than enough to cover a bit of usury, surely lol
Belfast
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #37The king he’s alive…
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #38…time for an Andy Carroll story?
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment #39Graeme…Strangely enough, no one has donated yet. I thought the Geordie public had big hearts… 🙂
Tsunki
Jun 6, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Comment #40@25 – sounds pretty much like a standard MoD contract. You might even get a helicopter thrown in.