Ashley has to bear brunt of fans’ fury

Sep 5 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

NEWCASTLE fans reacted to the news that King Kevin Keegan had gone with anger and sadness last night. And the finger of blame was pointed firmly at the directors’ box.

Steve Wraith, former fans’ liaison officer at St James’s Park and editor of fanzine Players Inc, said: “I’m flabbergasted, 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.”

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the ground last night.

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’.

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 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.”

And last night, Newcastle fans drinking in the city centre’s Fleet Street bar were united in their support for “King Kev”.

Rachel Campbell, a season ticket holder from Washington, said: “Keegan should not have left; it should be Dennis Wise leaving the club.”

And Ian Taylor from Gosforth also said Dennis Wise should leave the club.

He told The Journal: “Keegan was Mr Newcastle, he was everything to this club and its fans and now he has gone.

“I think the board have to look at themselves. Dennis Wise will have to go.”