Keegan supporters endure day of torment

Sep 3 2008 by Richard Fletcher, The Journal

THE mood was raucous at St James’s Park yesterday as hundreds of shocked fans flocked to the stadium to voice their support for one of the club’s most loved heroes.

With chants of “sack the board” and “there’s only one Kevin Keegan,” the crowds gave vent to their outrage at suggestions that the Newcastle United manager might be leaving.

Peter Clarke, a 25-year-old student from Durham, was among those who had rushed to St James’s Park.

He said: “I think it’s disgraceful, really. It’s not a club any more, it’s a business.

“If Dennis Wise replaced Keegan, I would never go to a game again.

“Keegan has done a great job under the circumstances, but he hasn’t really been given a chance and we do not want to see him go.”

Also outside the stadium as yesterday’s drama developed was Greg Hamilton, 21, from Wallsend. He said: “I feel sorry for Keegan, I don’t want him to go and I know that the fans will be really angry if he does. It’s just not on.”

For some of the anxious fans gathered outside the stadium, however, the speculation was proving too much to handle.

Lilian Saunders, 39, from Blyth, was close to tears at the prospect of the club losing Keegan. She said: “What are they thinking about? It is absolutely the wrong decision.

“I think the club are being deliberately confrontational and that Keegan should stay. My whole family are Newcastle mad and my son, who travels all the way from London for every game, is absolutely devastated.

“I think Mike Ashley isn’t right and doesn’t really understand the people or the city.”

Mrs Saunders was not alone in taking a dim view of club boss Ashley.

George Holden, 66, from Fenham, said: “Ashley will never get it right. It’s his decision at the end of the day, but I don’t feel he understands the club.”

As the anxious fans were met with a wall of silence from the club, scores of fans appeared with a banner reading: “Keegan in, Ashley and Wise out,” while other fans opted for a more extreme message: “If Keegan goes, boycott the club.”

Adam Potts, 22, from Gateshead, said: “Every time we take a step forward, we take another step back.

“This is a one-team town and by disrespecting Keegan, they are disrespecting the entire city of Newcastle.

“They are keeping all of the news to themselves, which is ridiculous because we are the supporters and we should know what is going on.”

Mathew Wake, also 22 and from Gateshead, said: “As soon as I heard the rumours this morning, I came straight down to the stadium. The fans have just had enough. This is my club and it’s really important to me to be here today to show my support for Keegan.

“I don’t think he should go and I definitely would not like to see Dennis Wise take his place. That would be devastating.”

As the hours of uncertainty drew on, the anxiety of some of the fans turned to anger. With some shouting “we hate Cockneys” and other anti-management chants, it was left up to two security guards to man the doors of the players’ entrance. Peter Brown, from Fenham, was fuming about the situation. He said: “I’ve been here for a few hours now because I want to know what’s going on.

“I think it’s a disgrace how the fans have been left in the dark over this when they are the people who pay the wages of those at the club.

“We’ve been made into the laughing stock of international football and I think that it is just complete chaos.

“There has been one bad decision after another. As a lifelong fan, I think that the whole situation is disgraceful.

“I find it particularly offensive when Mike Ashley is seen drinking lager on the terraces. That behaviour is discouraged in fans so he shouldn’t do it himself.

“Why can’t he be bothered to show some respect and wear a suit?”

For Teresa Brown, 76, from Wallsend, support for Keegan was unconditional. She said: “I like Keegan very much.

“I go to every game and have a season ticket in the East Paddock stand. I think what has been going on today is very worrying. I would hate to lose him.

“Keegan is a fantastic manager for the club and a part of Newcastle, an honorary Geordie.

“He is irreplaceable, I support him no matter what, through thick and thin and I think that’s what it takes to be a real fan.”