Dennis Wise, Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are not the most popular names in Ne
wcastle right now. Everybody is criticising the structure of the club. The media, fans and other managers have been vociferous in their disapproval that Keegan was not in total control of player arrivals and departures. The final straw for Keegan was the sale of James Milner, who was sold to Aston Villa for £12m. Indeed, these structures have caused problems in the past. In November 2004 Harry Redknapp became so disillusioned with life at Portsmouth when Milan Mandaric brought in Velimir Zajec as Executive Director, he left and joined arch rivals Southampton.
The appointment of an Executive Director, or a Director of Football has certainly undermined managers and caused numerous problems in the past. However, in the case of Kevin Keegan, people have forgotten something rather telling. After Keegan left Manchester City in 2005, he cut all his ties with top-flight football and immersed himself in his 'Soccer Circus' in Glasgow. When appointed Newcastle
manager three years later, Keegan freely admitted he had never watched a game of football in the flesh since his departure from Eastlands. Now, all the public opinion, especially in Newcastle is firmly in Keegan's favour. Moreover, people such as Hull manager Phil Brown and Geordie legend Alan Shearer have come out and said that they would never tolerate such interference.
wcastle right now. Everybody is criticising the structure of the club. The media, fans and other managers have been vociferous in their disapproval that Keegan was not in total control of player arrivals and departures. The final straw for Keegan was the sale of James Milner, who was sold to Aston Villa for £12m. Indeed, these structures have caused problems in the past. In November 2004 Harry Redknapp became so disillusioned with life at Portsmouth when Milan Mandaric brought in Velimir Zajec as Executive Director, he left and joined arch rivals Southampton.The appointment of an Executive Director, or a Director of Football has certainly undermined managers and caused numerous problems in the past. However, in the case of Kevin Keegan, people have forgotten something rather telling. After Keegan left Manchester City in 2005, he cut all his ties with top-flight football and immersed himself in his 'Soccer Circus' in Glasgow. When appointed Newcastle
Nevertheless, the point I'm trying to convey is that Dennis Wise's role in the transfer dealings may not be as bad as people have been suggesting. Would you let a man who has not watched a game of football in the last three years go out and spend millions on players? The structure in place at Newcastle was there to aid Keegan, but ultimately, Keegan desired total control, and that is something the Newcastle hierarchy were not prepared to give him. The whole saga has left me wondering whether the appointment of Keegan was just a huge PR stunt that's gone horribly wrong, rather like Mike Ashley watching every game in the stands at St. James' park with his replica shirt on. Ashley and co should never have given Keegan the job if they did not trust him, and it seems to me that they never did.Picture: Ashley, needs better PR???
