Hughton move ‘Keegan’s idea’

Feb 29 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan was the driving force behind the appointment of Chris Hughton as Newcastle United’s assistant manager this week, despite rumours he had nothing to do with his arrival.

Keegan and the Newcastle hierarchy are fuming at reports Hughton’s arrival at St James’s Park was done without the prior knowledge of the manager.

Reports on Thursday even went so far as to claim Keegan was on the verge of quitting the club because he was so upset at the decision to bring in Hughton (pictured right) as his number two.However, The Journal has been told that, rather than resent Hughton’s arrival, it was actually Keegan’s decision to approach the former Republic of Ireland defender to see if he was interested in coming to St James’s Park as a coach.Keegan has not worked with the former Spurs assistant manager before, but he was aware of his excellent reputation as a coach and knew he was highly-rated by former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, as well as the man he replaced as England manager, Glenn Hoddle, from their time together at White Hart Lane.A senior United source said: “Kevin was the one who first came up with the idea of bringing Chris to the club and he was the first person to call him to see if he was interested in the job. Kevin was the driving force behind the idea.”The Journal understands that Keegan approached the board about the possibility of bringing in a new assistant manager following the departure of Nigel Pearson this month.The appointment was agreed in principle before Keegan contacted Hughton directly via telephone. The 43-year-old responded to the approach by saying he was thrilled to accept the chance to move to the North East and become a key part of Keegan’s new-look backroom team.News of the verbal agreement was then passed on to chairman Chris Mort, who only spoke to Hughton for the first time when the two men met last week to finalise the details of the move and to sort out personal terms.United’s hierarchy are growing increasingly irritated by the amount of negative speculation surrounding the club, particularly as Keegan’s supposed opposition to Hughton’s appointment comes just a matter of weeks after he was also, incorrectly, said to be unhappy with the arrival of Dennis Wise as an executive director (football).That rumour was also strongly denied by Keegan at the time, but that has still not stopped some people – described as “mischief makers” by Mort last week – from predicting he will quit because of the former Leeds manager’s presence at the club. Keegan said last month: “I see it as a positive thing and I approve of it. “I would be wrong to suggest anything other than I knew about what was going to happen. That was in place before I came to the club.“It would have happened no matter who took this job. There’s been no deception or anything, it’s been very open. I’m fine. I’m all for the changes. It’s not a problem.”Keegan had also revealed last week that he was looking to bring in one or two new faces behind the scenes at St James’s Park, with Hughton’s appointment confirmed just three days later.Keegan has singled out Michael Owen’s return to goalscoring form as one of the few positives from his first five weeks back as United manager.Owen, who may partner Obafemi Martins for the first time under Keegan against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow, has scored two goals in his last three games and has been appointed skipper by Sam Allardyce’s successor.Keegan said: “Michael is very fit and very focused at the moment. We hope – and I am confident – that the two goals he has scored for me so far are just a start. But apart from the goals, what has pleased me the most is his work-rate.“We have not really played well enough to provide him with the sort of ammunition he needs, but even though we have supplied him with very little, he has managed to turn decent balls into goals.“If we can improve that service and pick him out a little bit earlier, he will score goals. But the challenge is also there for the rest of the lads to get goals from elsewhere.”(pictured right) as his number two.

However, The Journal has been told that, rather than resent Hughton’s arrival, it was actually Keegan’s decision to approach the former Republic of Ireland defender to see if he was interested in coming to St James’s Park as a coach.

Keegan has not worked with the former Spurs assistant manager before, but he was aware of his excellent reputation as a coach and knew he was highly-rated by former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, as well as the man he replaced as England manager, Glenn Hoddle, from their time together at White Hart Lane.

A senior United source said: “Kevin was the one who first came up with the idea of bringing Chris to the club and he was the first person to call him to see if he was interested in the job. Kevin was the driving force behind the idea.”

The Journal understands that Keegan approached the board about the possibility of bringing in a new assistant manager following the departure of Nigel Pearson this month.

The appointment was agreed in principle before Keegan contacted Hughton directly via telephone. The 43-year-old responded to the approach by saying he was thrilled to accept the chance to move to the North East and become a key part of Keegan’s new-look backroom team.

News of the verbal agreement was then passed on to chairman Chris Mort, who only spoke to Hughton for the first time when the two men met last week to finalise the details of the move and to sort out personal terms.

United’s hierarchy are growing increasingly irritated by the amount of negative speculation surrounding the club, particularly as Keegan’s supposed opposition to Hughton’s appointment comes just a matter of weeks after he was also, incorrectly, said to be unhappy with the arrival of Dennis Wise as an executive director (football).

That rumour was also strongly denied by Keegan at the time, but that has still not stopped some people – described as “mischief makers” by Mort last week – from predicting he will quit because of the former Leeds manager’s presence at the club. Keegan said last month: “I see it as a positive thing and I approve of it.

“I would be wrong to suggest anything other than

I knew about what was going to happen. That was in place before I came to the club.

“It would have happened no matter who took this job. There’s been no deception or anything, it’s been very open. I’m fine. I’m all for the changes. It’s not a problem.”

Keegan had also revealed last week that he was looking to bring in one or two new faces behind the scenes at St James’s Park, with Hughton’s appointment confirmed just three days later.

Keegan has singled out Michael Owen’s return to goalscoring form as one of the few positives from his first five weeks back as United manager.

Owen, who may partner Obafemi Martins for the first time under Keegan against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow, has scored two goals in his last three games and has been appointed skipper by Sam Allardyce’s successor.

Keegan said: “Michael is very fit and very focused at the moment. We hope – and I am confident – that the two goals he has scored for me so far are just a start. But apart from the goals, what has pleased me the most is his work-rate.

“We have not really played well enough to provide him with the sort of ammunition he needs, but even though we have supplied him with very little, he has managed to turn decent balls into goals.

“If we can improve that service and pick him out a little bit earlier, he will score goals. But the challenge is also there for the rest of the lads to get goals from elsewhere.”