Fans react with fury as Keegan quits NUFC

Sep 4 2008 By Matt McKenzie

NEWCASTLE fans reacted to the news that Keegan had gone with anger and sadness tonight.

The fans’ anger was clearly demonstrated tonight as hundreds of supporters gathered outside the ground.

They chanted their hero’s name, then angrily followed it up chanting ``Sack The Board“ and ``We Hate Cockneys“. Youngsters held up a banner saying ``Ashley Not So Wise“.

As drivers made their way through the busy city centre traffic, many tooted their horns in support of the protest.

Mark Jensen, editor of the influential Mag fanzine, said the club should have done more to protect its best asset.

He said: ``When they brought Kevin Keegan back to the club they did not understand what he was all about and what he meant to everybody here.

``They did not understand how they should have valued him and what a massive positive he should have been for the club. It is such a waste.

``He should have been the last person they should have been undermining.”

The 43-year-old said Ashley would have ``balls of steel“ if he made Wise the manager.

Mr Jensen warned the club hierarchy not to keep quiet and hope the fans’ ill-feeling will subside.

He said: ``It is so important now that in the next seven or eight days something dynamic happens.”

More than 200 supporters demonstrated on the steps leading into the main stand of the ground.

Police officers kept a low profile as more fans joined the protest after hearing the news.

Chants of ``boycott the club“ were followed by angry finger pointing directed towards the offices in the ground where lights were still on as darkness fell.

Fans said it was more than a token performance for the television cameras.

Musician Alan Watson from Fenham, a couple of miles from the ground, said: ``We have to protest and hopefully it will have some effect.

``But of course it is Ashley’s money and Ashley’s club. Most people think it is just a toy to him.”

Civil Servant Rob Best, wearing a black and white Keegan shirt said: ``It feels like someone has died.

``The ground will be half empty next week against Hull.

``There were three or four thousand empty seats for the first home game of the season and that was when Keegan was still here.”

The 47-year-old from Walkergate, Newcastle added: ``I feel sorry for the next manager who comes here.”

Meanwhile fans chanted: ``If Keegan goes, the fans go too,” and: ``We want our Keegan back.”

David Thompson, 26, who lived only a couple of hundred yards from the ground said the owner will no longer be welcome to watch his club alongside the long-standing Newcastle fans.

He said: ``He has been to away games with his black and white shirt on but he won’t be going to any more because he will not be allowed in.

``Hopefully he will be wise enough to sell the club as soon as possible.”

Steve Wraith, former fans’ liaison officer at St James’s Park and editor of fanzine Players Inc, said: “I’m flabergasted, it’s a total shock.

“We didn’t need this. Mike Ashley has a lot to answer for.

“This is a mistake of the highest order - Ashley will regret this.

“I hope he doesn’t appoint Dennis Wise as manager, because people will be furious.

“This is not a happy time for Newcastle fans. I’m lost for words.

“This is the third time I’ve seen Keegan leave the club: the first time was in a helicopter when he was a player, the first time he left as manager and now this.

“I believe Keegan could now quit football for good and that would be a tragedy. He is a real football man and it will be a tragedy for the whole game if he leaves.”

Frank Gilmour, of the Newcastle Independent Supporters Association, said: “I’m disgusted to say the least - I can’t believe what the guy has done.

“Sadly Ashley seems to have gone with Wise over Keegan.

“There will be massive backlash to this from the fans at the Hull match.

"All the ex-players and managers have been on Keegan’s side over the past few days.

“It is the last time Ashley will be able to sit in the stands wearing his Newcastle top I can tell you that. Its is probably the last time he will even be able to go to the ground.”