Premier League - Magpies warned after Keegan exit

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Sep 16:43:00 2008

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has called on Newcastle to sort out their internal structure to ensure the next manager at St James' Park does not suffer the same fate as Kevin Keegan.

FOOTBALL Kevin Keegan - 0

Keegan has quit for the second time in his career, citing interference from above, particularly having players he did not want foisted upon him, as the deciding factor.

Fans have been quick to blame owner Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise, who was installed as executive director (football) after Keegan's appointment in January.

The club are now looking for their sixth manager in four years and Bevan believes the next man who takes over must have his role clearly defined and be happy with his place in the power base.

"Newcastle failed to create a structure where Kevin Keegan could flourish," he said.

"It was like having an orchestra with three conductors and sooner or later it was going to break down."

Reports suggest Keegan is liable to pay Newcastle £2million compensation for walking just eight months into a three-and-a-half-year contract.

However, Bevan believes there are more pressing issues for Ashley and his board to concentrate on.

"I think I would have liked to hear Newcastle talking about how to build a model that works, how they are going to create a clear chain of command," he said.

"The dispute between Kevin and the club is in the hands of the lawyers but at no time in our discussions did Kevin talk about compensation.

"The most important thing for Kevin was that the manager must have the right to manage.

"A couple of nights ago I was with Kevin for a long period of time and his sole focus was with the fans.

"He was torn and when he had no alternative to resign his thoughts were for the fans. That sends a message to Newcastle."

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson agreed with Bevan that the club's choice to have a football executive above Keegan was doomed to failure.

"If you are going to work in a football club then the most prominent person in that club - certainly as far as the public is concerned and you could argue as far as anyone is concerned - is the man called the manager or the guy who is responsible for the first team," he told Sky Sports News.

"So to create a position which is going to result in friction through lack of communication, through a failure to communicate what the role is etc, seems to be a recipe for disaster.

"Particularly if you bring someone into that position between manager and board after you have appointed a manager."

Bevan said he was not opposed to the continental approach - which is increasingly being employed at English clubs - where one man coaches the team and player recruitment is left to an official at boardroom level.

What he did object to, however, was a change in structure having already employed the manager.

"I've heard a few people saying the continental model doesn't work but I think it does in certain situations," Bevan told Radio 5 Live.

"It is different for Kevin because he was in charge before other people came on board.

"The next person who comes on board has to make sure there is a clear chain of command and there are shared goals.

"But is it more about the business. The problem is accentuated in football in that managers are being sacked every 12-18 months.

"What we have to do is ensure that members are better equipped to deal with this.

"We have to work together as a clearer unit and understand what is important to football and the fans and I am sure the game will move forward."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Muckingfuddler....@#$% fiddler....u my friend are­ jealous of nufc fans....and wish to judge­ others....funny you ended up on the nufc comment­ blog...what are you doing here....go onto your own­ pages....wrong territory fiddler...very nosy­ boy....what team do you support? man enough to say it­ and be honest, not a wimp and mention another team?­ cmon lad...

    From Gogz, on Sun 7 Sep 7:19AM

  2. Hi Nufcfans it's brenda here I thouht that when­ Freddie Shepard and his cronies had departed things­ would get better at newcastle but no along comes Mike­ Ashley and Denis Wise? What an unusually funny surname­ because he does not act according to what his name­ means. Come on Newcastle

    From brenda211, on Sat 6 Sep 10:31AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I've watched things unfolding on TV for past 3 days­ . I have been amazed at the interviews with the fans.Is­ there no intelligent life in Newcastle. Most of the­ fans look as if they need a carer or should be in a­ special needs class or the star wars bar . Definitely­ serve as a warning for the perils of in - breeding .­ Any prospective managers seeing these scenes on T V­ I'm sure will run a mile.
    NUFC fans are supposed to­ be the most passionate, from what I've seen the­ passion could be between brother and sister or son and­ mother, you definitely need some new blood up there and­ I don't mean the team .Do yourselves a favour try­ and get a non half - head to front of interview queue­ someone that can string two sentences together with­ valid opinions,and a little command of the English­ language

    From muckingfuddler, on Sat 6 Sep 9:39AM

  4. there's no such thing as a gb league.

    From nick, on Sat 6 Sep 8:42AM

  5. hey its unlike kevin keegan to walk out on a club!

    From upthevilla, on Sat 6 Sep 12:17AM

  6. Serves Dennis Un-Wise and Ashley right!

    From Barack 08!, on Fri 5 Sep 9:12PM

  7. why dont the fa or the lma have the b**ls to intervine­ in this rubbish??,we are in GB, this is a GB league,­ teams with directors and managers, not these 'poncy­ directors of football'(who have no creditation)does­ fergie answer to a director of football,wenger?. no,­ these are 'managers!!!!!!!

    From S, on Fri 5 Sep 8:28PM

  8. ashley should buy a conference team and him and wise­ can manage them and then see how for they get. Bet they­ get relegated,kk's only mistake was not to read the­ contract properly and see that he wouldn;t have full­ control.

    From S, on Fri 5 Sep 8:19PM

  9. get a grip!!!!!!!!ashley's got to go and take that­ prat wise with him

    From S, on Fri 5 Sep 8:17PM

  10. Nufc fans view King Kev as a messiah because of what he­ has done in the past for Nufc BUT also what he has to­ offer in the present compared to other potential­ managers. He knows what the supporters wish, that is­ positive entertaining football. Also supporters know­ Kevin Keegan has the ability to get the best out of­ players, the Allardyce side Kevin inherited played­ better football after several weeks under Keegan­ management. Remember Kevin Keegan did not even have a­ chance to pick his own team.

    Keegan also loves the­ people and the club and would match the efforts of­ virtually any other manager. Kevin probably resigned­ because he knew he was not allowed to deliver what the­ supporters wanted and he was not allowed to select the­ players that would gel in to a team he was trying to­ create.

    It is ok to have the likes of Dennis Wise and­ others to hunt down quality players that he thinks are­ good for Nufc, this method I think helps because the­ manager's job is a lot of work and several heads­ are normally better than one. HOWEVER it should be the­ manager that has the ultimate decision to select a­ player and not different minds deciding otherwise how­ do you formulate a team that will gel together. Dennis­ Wise etc. should have put forward the­ evidence(videos,stats,fitness,etc) and discuss with­ Kevin Keegan stating why the player would be good for­ Nufc. Keegan would then be able to make the ultimate­ decision whether to buy or not assuming Mike Ashley was­ happy with the price.

    It is not too late for Ashley­ to change things. He does not have to get rid of Wise­ etc. but should allow Keegan the final decision in­ player purchasing. I suspect Ashley is not prepared to­ spend big and if that is the case I dont think Keegan­ would have left due to lack of money.

    Sadly if Keegan­ does not return the energy and aura of Nufc is­ diminished and I will not be following Nufc in the same­ capacity. I also agree with the boycott if it were to­ get Kevin Keegan back or Ashley out.

    From Charles, on Fri 5 Sep 6:22PM

  11. The Toon are the GREATEST, since the dawn of time, to­ present day and long after the sun burns out we will­ remain. . . the GREATEST - We are truly " united­ " as a fan base, its black and white.

    From p.braton, on Fri 5 Sep 5:50PM

  12. remember quinn phillips seem u invaded pitch

    From doug.bragan, on Fri 5 Sep 5:42PM

  13. AVRAM GRANT TO NEWCASTLE UNITED !
    Avram Grant is the­ man for the job, that is 100% sure ! Maby, but maby­ even better than KK.
    Bring us Avram Grant Please !

    From eladb, on Fri 5 Sep 5:17PM

  14. floydthedog - if Cisse and Malbranque are the best u­ can come up with I rest my case you never had the likes­ of Keegan Shearer Gazza Beardsley Sir Les Ginola etc­ etc etc etc pull on the Red and White shirt and never­ likely to either except for the exception of Paul Ted­ Bovis McShane - he should have stayed with Hi Di Hi

    From winkermagpie, on Fri 5 Sep 5:17PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    newsflash news just in an its true keegan left coz­ ashleys breath stunk like a dead cows arse an every­ time he asked him for money king kev da messiah just­ couldnt stay in da room coz when ashley opened his­ mouth kev went a little greyer... poor kev i loved his­ interviews on match of the day as well.. he didnt av a­ clue what he was saying poor currant.. they should get­ jimmy naill as there new manager coz his breath wreaks­ like a cows arse aswell infact i think its all dat FOG­ ON THE TYNE... WAHAAY you kebab an beer swilling­ louts....ever been to blackpool well yer playing them­ soon.cya later mickr237 you boring @#$%......

    From Jasoptimum851, on Fri 5 Sep 5:07PM

  16. anglocanadian FINALLY a geordie with a brain took you­ long enough to think of it tho

    From floyedthedog, on Fri 5 Sep 4:54PM

  17. floyethedog cant u say anythink constructive your more­ like shagthedog or kickthedog what coming out of your­ mouth wof wof

    From Terry, on Fri 5 Sep 4:46PM

  18. Watson you should change your name to­ w.a.n.k.e.r.magpie

    From floyedthedog, on Fri 5 Sep 4:35PM

  19. Watson now thats the type of come back I like, bit of­ wit about it, but you geordie idiots are still talking­ turd!!

    are you forgetting bout malbranque? cisse?­ ferdinand, who apparantly you wanted but he was so­ impressed by Keane that he signed for us, you geordies­ need to get a grip or you will still be acting like­ cavemen saying we're a quality premiership club,­ when your playing against the likes Charlton in the­ championship and getting the s.h.i.t kicked outta­ you!!!!!

    From floyedthedog, on Fri 5 Sep 4:34PM

  20. GOOD LUCK KEV

    From pond.simba, on Fri 5 Sep 4:30PM
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