Whole city is in mourning

Sep 6 2008 by William Green, The Journal

NEWCASTLE is like a city in mourning after Kevin Keegan’s departure, a leading expert warned yesterday.

Psychology expert Cary Cooper, a professor at Lancaster University, said the return of Keegan to Newcastle football club just a few months ago had provided a “psychological uplift”.

But he warned that public morale would suffer following the departure of a manager adored by fans in difficult circumstances, a warning echoed by civic leaders in Newcastle.

Prof Cooper, an expert in organisational psychology and health, said: “Kevin Keegan is a motivator. He is a guy who created a psychological uplift for the club and city.

“Him going and under the circumstances he has gone is going to have quite negative consequences for the club, but generally it may affect the morale of the city as well in the short-term.” Senior Newcastle councillor Greg Stone said: “There has always been a case of when the club does well, the mood of the city is palpable. And when things go badly the hangover is felt by people across Tyneside, so there will be a lot of sore heads over how this situation has ended.”

The Liberal Democrat added: “Clearly Kevin Keegan has a huge amount of popular support and there must be serious questions about how the board has allowed this situation to develop.”

Nick Forbes, leader of the Labour group on the council, said it was a “crying shame” Keegan had not been allowed to manage the team as he wanted.

He said: “Morale is now at rock bottom both amongst the players and the fans and I wonder if it is possible for a rethink from Newcastle United football club.

“It affects the whole mood of the city when things aren’t going very well so it is hugely important for the psychology of Newcastle and the wider region that things get better at Newcastle United.”

Have your say on developments at Newcastle in our survey - click here