Newcastle United In Turmoil Again

Who would have thought that after such a relatively good start to the season, and obvious improvement in the playing squad, Newcastle United appear to be in disarray again.  The fans don't know what has happened, simply because the club, as has been usual over the last year or so under the ownership of Mike Ashley, haven't told the fans anything.

Yesterday there was news that Kevin Keegan had resigned and then there was conflicting news that in fact he had been sacked. But either way, he was no longer manager of the club.

There was apparently a meeting on Monday afternoon, when it appears that Kevin found out two things:

1. Newcastle had been trying to sell Barton, Smith and Owen, presumably without Kevin knowing
2. Newcastle were not doing well in the transfer market and there was little chance of bringing in the players Kevin had hoped would arrive

It's not clear what really happened, but whatever it was, Kevin was certainly not happy, and is reported to have stormed out of the meeting, following a heated exchange with the board. There was another meeting yesterday morning between the Board and Kevin, and that's when the rumors started of Kevin having left the club.

So not only were the Newcastle fans disappointed that only Xisco and Gonzalez had been signed before the transfer window closed, having lost James Milner last Friday to Aston Villa, but also we were losing the ever popular Kevin Keegan, who right now is Newcastle United. This was really bad news!

Yesterday the fans heard nothing, and of course the newspapers had a field day again with Newcastle United, and it looked almost certain that Kevin had left the club. Then late in the day the club finally issued a statement, in which they said they had in fact not sacked Kevin. Then early this morning the LMA (League Managers Association), presumably on Kevin's behalf, issued a statement saying that Keegan had not resigned.

If Kevin had not been sacked and he had not resigned, then he must still be the manager of Newcastle United, and that was good news for Newcastle fans everywhere.

Then later this morning, the club further clarified the situation by stating that not only had Kevin Keegan not been fired, but he hadn't resigned either, and he was still indeed manager of the club, and negotiations with the Board were ongoing.

Right now it is said that Kevin and the Board are still meeting, and it seems they are working out how they can continue to work together, and what the conditions have to be for Kevin to remain at the club. One thing is very clear, and that's the fact that Kevin must be in charge of all player personnel, and which players come, and which players leave the club.

It cannot be Dennis Wise, or the recruitment team, or even Mike Ashley himself, because that will not work. Newcastle fans demonstrated last night outside St. James' Park, and made it clear to the Board, and to owner Mike Ashley, and to everybody else, who's side they were on, and it wasn't the Board's or the owner's.

The fans hope that Kevin can remain at the club, and this mess can be sorted out as quickly as possible. The big casualty in all of this of course, is unfortunately, the Newcastle United Football Club, who some of us have supported with pride and with passion all of our lives, even through we haven't won a domestic trophy for 53 years.

That has to be real pride and passion.

Fans are hoping things can be patched up quickly, and that part of the solution is to stop these things from continually happening at the club, because most fans are just running out of patience, when the club and the loyal fans always seem to be the ones who suffer the most.

Comments and views are very welcome.