Keegan resigns and fans turn their anger on Ashley

Sep 5 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan last night quit as manager of Newcastle United. His resignation was confirmed by the League Managers Association (LMA) just before 7pm.

The 57-year-old had been at the helm for just eight months in his second period as manager.

His announcement followed rumours of a split with the board over transfers and the role of club directors.

Keegan missed training this week, after matters came to a head on Tuesday following the closing of the transfer window.

Last week he said he should be judged on signings the club made after James Milner was sold to Aston Villa for £12m, saying the club needed to bring in three or four players.

But by midnight on Monday, Newcastle had signed only Spanish striker Xisco and winger Ignacio Gonzalez on loan and there were rumours that Michael Owen and Joey Barton were available for transfer.

On Tuesday news spread that Keegan had quit or been sacked and hundreds of supporters gathered outside St James’s Park to protest. Further talks failed to resolve the situation.

A statement released on Keegan’s behalf by the LMA said: "I've been working desperately hard to find a way forward with the directors, but sadly that has not proved possible.

"It’s my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want.

"It remains my fervent wish to see Newcastle United do well in the future and I feel incredibly sorry for the players, staff and most importantly the supporters.

"I have been left with no choice other than to leave."

Supporters groups expressed anger and disappointment and some called for a boycott of future matches.

Frank Gilmour, of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters Club, said: "I’m disgusted by this, to say the least. It seems Ashley has chosen Wise over Keegan and I think he has made the wrong decision.

"He won’t be able to sit in the ground in his Newcastle top again. I doubt he will even be able to go to St James’s again after this.

"I think you will see a massive reaction at the next match with fans not turning up."

Kevin Keegan returned for a second spell as manager in January this year, following the sacking of Sam Allardyce.

Fans on Tyneside were delighted with the appointment, as their "messiah" returned home after his first spell in charge in the 90s.

During that time Newcastle competed for the title with Manchester United and hopes were high that he could repeat the success a second time.

He led the Magpies to safety last season and the club made a solid start to this season with a draw at Old Trafford and a home win against Bolton.

But things were never clear-cut behind the scenes at the club. Much of the money that chairman Mike Ashley promised when he took over the club wasn’t forthcoming.

Shortly after Keegan’s arrival, Ashley brought in Dennis Wise as a "football-related" executive director while Tony Jimenez was appointed vice-president of player recruitment – a move Keegan said he accepted at the time.

At what turned out to be Keegan’s last game in charge at Arsenal on Saturday, Ashley stood with the fans wearing a Newcastle shirt emblazoned with the words "King Kev" on the back. But his relationship with the fans had been souring for some time and a backlash is likely at the home game against Hull on September 14.

Last night fans gathered outside St James’s Park chanting Keegan’s name and calling for Ashley to leave.

Newcastle United were unavailable for comment last night.