Premier League - Newcastle continue Keegan talks

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Sep 10:27:00 2008

Newcastle have reiterated that manager Kevin Keegan has not been sacked, nor has he left the club, and that talks between the two parties are on-going.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Newcastle United fans - 0

Reports claimed the Magpies boss was on the verge of leaving St James' Park after just eight months in the job following a difference of opinion with the board over recent transfer activity.

That prompted an angry response from fans who gathered at St James' Park on Tuesday and called for the board, not Keegan, to be sacked.

In response, a statement was issued on the club's official website insisting Keegan had not been sacked, but failing to confirm whether the manager had walked out of the club of his own accord.

Now, a second statement has been issued, confirming that Keegan has neither been pushed out of the club, nor resigned from his post.

"Newcastle United Football Club can confirm that discussions are ongoing between the board and Kevin Keegan," it read.

"Both the club and Kevin would like to reiterate that Kevin remains as manager.

"He has not resigned nor has he been sacked, as has been confirmed in respective statements made by Kevin and Newcastle United Football Club."

As well as the club's transfer policy, Keegan was thought to be unhappy with the level of influence he has been afforded as manager, with Dennis Wise operating as director of football since being brought in by owner Mike Ashley last season.

James Milner was sold to Aston Villa last week despite Keegan previously insisting he wanted to keep the winger, while rumours suggest the arrivals of Xisco and Ignacio Gonzalez yesterday were not on his say-so.

Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the League Managers' Association (LMA) confirmed Keegan was still holding talks with the club but admitted he "was in a difficult position" at St James' Park.

Bevan told BBC Radio: "He is in a difficult position but he has not resigned.

"I spoke to Kevin at length last night and he will be discussing really important issues with the Newcastle board over the next few days."

Eurosport

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  1. quinn & keano rule the north east . ftm

    From weavster, on Thu 4 Sep 5:50PM

  2. As a Leeds United supporter I can sympathise with those­ Newcastle fans who want Wise out. He is a­ money-grubbing little @#$% who didn't hesitate to­ leave Leeds United in the middle of a very important­ season for them, to become "director of­ football" at NUFC. He has no scruples and will­ always put himself first. Newcastle, you deserve him. I­ feel sad that Keegan finds himself in this position.­ Just imagine Ferguson putting up with the same @#$% at­ Manchester United - it wouldn't happen! Ashley­ either needs to wake up and smell the roses or sell up­ and take the little @#$% with him.

    From fredandchris48, on Thu 4 Sep 11:39AM

  3. its a shame keegan will be gone soon , ashley and wise­ need to go as well. you fans need to vote with your­ feet and boycott straight away. the club has been in­ turmoil for quite a few years now and needs financial­ backing from elsewhere.

    From RODMUNCH, on Thu 4 Sep 10:40AM

  4. regarding" fruitboy n droopy draws" also­ known as NIGELNKATH so wot if u lived 10 mins from­ ground , that must av been u i saw living in that TENT­ 10 mins up the road from the ground was it u sad little­ man. u obviously kno nowt about football and have­ demonstrated this by your childish n pathetic attempts­ to upset newcastle fans. now jump on your big fat­ moosis n ride them waves !!!

    From thegowster, on Thu 4 Sep 10:40AM

  5. who knows the real truth about the situation? only make­ comments when you know what you are talking about!!!

    From chrystal_rainbow, on Thu 4 Sep 10:35AM

  6. There is only one great thing about NUFC and that is­ its following. The fans do not deserve the owner that­ the club has, and the farcical management structure­ with competing managers is just beyond belief.The­ players are bound to be disillusioned and looking for a­ way out. For a supposedly astute businessman, Ashley­ has done more to devalue this once great club than Fat­ Freddie or Sir John Hall ever did in their best­ bumblings.

    From stuart_bull, on Thu 4 Sep 10:33AM

  7. HES NOT THE MESSIAH HES A VERY NAUGHTY BOY

    KEEP UP THE­ GOOD WORK ASHLEY

    From gazhare, on Thu 4 Sep 10:23AM

  8. the whole of peru is where you wash the pig and dispose­ of shlt ps i miss nobby
    sort it out newcastle, i am­ thinking of watching darlington instead

    From smithseasy, on Thu 4 Sep 10:03AM

  9. Complete @#$% if u ask me all this ...... First of all­ Keegan hasnt even been given a full season. second of­ all no financial backing to restructure the team! many­ players left very few were signed! The best signing­ since Martins is Collocini!

    After Loosing Sir­ Boby....Then Big Sam and now all this with KK .... The­ problems at NUFC are in the Boardroom. Ashley seems to­ bring no stability to the club or even provide­ resources to the manager to be serious contenders......­ its simple! Obviously the manager would be pissed off!

    From faraazmia, on Thu 4 Sep 9:54AM

  10. Kevin Keagan was seen yesterday in an East London­ restaurant talking with E. E. CEO of West Ham, my mate­ works in the restaurant and they had a meal behind­ closed doors..only the restaurant manager was supposed­ to know about it. Kevin had pie and mash followed by­ jellied eels.

    From Greenjob, on Thu 4 Sep 9:28AM

  11. For the way your club treated the great Bobby Robson i­ think you may have deserved this maybe it's Karma..

    From ndy_raven, on Thu 4 Sep 9:17AM

  12. toon fans vote with your feet boycote the club ans­ Ashleys shops until both Wise and Ashley are OUT

    From bobby, on Thu 4 Sep 9:00AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    let kegan go hip hip horray

    From brian w, on Thu 4 Sep 8:24AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    let himgo he is nothing but a cry baby

    From brian w, on Thu 4 Sep 8:21AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The english liga be a joke without foreign managers­ and players.Anybody remember when english manager won­ the title ????? Everton and Portsmoth is OK....

    From JoeF, on Thu 4 Sep 1:45AM

  16. As usual a club manager will play the hero just to­ regret that later on. Keegan is an awesome coach and­ mentor and replacing him now would bring the club­ nothing but troubles.

    From Half A Brain, on Thu 4 Sep 12:57AM

  17. ajax lingers longer than keegan ever will

    From paulbowden1, on Thu 4 Sep 12:55AM

  18. it is not unusual for a coach only to have input­ however not the final say in the clubs transfer­ activity. The role of coaching as well a excercising­ business acumen and savvy in the market is a huge­ undertaking and should not be the responsibility of one­ individual. Most European clubs have a team of managers­ that engage daily in this activity ask Sir Bobby Robson­ when he as employed by Ajax a coach is responsible for­ the on field activity and unless they have a strong­ business management backgroud they should stay well­ clear of fiscal responsibility. Wake up Gordie fans

    From Stephen, on Thu 4 Sep 12:47AM

  19. ar man we will too

    From nik_acton, on Thu 4 Sep 12:21AM

  20. As a toon fan I have watched events unfold and read­ many comments. Many seem to have the opinion that when­ the going gets tough .. keegan walks. But wait a minute­ .. many managers solier on regardless just for their­ pay cheque .. look at moyes at everton - no players in­ till the deadline .. but he is carrying on. Keegan is­ his own man (yeah he wears his heart on his sleeve -­ but would you prefer an "eriksson" ??) He is­ the only one over the years (bar Sir Bobby) that has­ got this football club playing "good­ football".
    He's done it before with average­ players (beresford,venison,sellars et al). I hope this­ mess gets sorted. People on the outside blame keegan­ ... on the inside its ashley.
    Keegan is a hero up here­ but ashley has steadied this ship and put in a hell of­ a lot of money.
    This club is great and makes headlines­ for all the wrong reasons. I just pray they can get it­ together and you know what .... in a few months time I­ can see us lifting a cup and looking back and laughing­ about this.
    One final thing Spiderman and coloccini and­ xisco will prove to be masterful signings !
    Lets be­ upbeat .. we WILL get through this !

    From HOWARD, on Thu 4 Sep 12:03AM
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