Recently I had a familiar dream where I found myself in a strange town seeking a bus which would get me in the direction I needed to travel although not completely home, uncertain of which bus stop and the direction to take I went for stop to stop only to see the bus I required leave from a different location and then discover that this was the last of the day, there was no train or taxi service and I was marooned. There was no panic or fear just inconvenience and irritation that the people are had asked for help claimed ignorance or just ignored.
This morning there was no such dream and I awoke contentedly around 8am, started to write, made myself an coffee and two slices of toast, determined to start on a house and to attend to other practical matters and some project work. I switched on the TV for the news channels including Sky Sports News to learn the reaction to the events of yesterday and early on, I cannot remember the precise time, that there was news that Kevin Keegan had been called to a meeting with the Newcastle Board. There was a photo of Terry McDermott taking a phone call or making a phone call at the training ground. So for the first part of the morning the impression was that Kevin had walked out of the club as he did not return to the training ground, and this was because of a disagreement with the board, presumed to be over the buying and selling of players following injuries to key existing members of the team. There is also believed to have been a disagreement over the future of Joey Barton and whether he should be sold should the opportunity arise during the transfer period. I also wondered about the position of Michael Owen.
By early afternoon Sky were reporting that Kevin Keegan had been sacked by the board. Only later when the club issued a statement on their internet site saying he had not been sacked did Sky confirm that Keegan had told his friends that he had been sacked.
During the afternoon various young people and some not so young assembled by the ground calling for the Owner and the Director of Football to resign. There were hundreds if not thousands of emails and texts delivered to the Sky from season ticket holders and supporters saying they would not set foot in the ground if Keegan left while Ashley and Wise remained in position. Several well known former players including John Beresford expressed their concern, explained that the departure of Keegan would be disastrous for the club. He, at least I think it was who appealed to those involved to resolve their differences for the future good of the club.
By late afternoon a promised statement from the club had not been issued and it was early evening before a statement was made, not to the press, but on the club internet site. This said that Kevin had not been sacked and that the club wanted him to continue with the club as manager and pursue the strategy to progress the club. Thus the statement did not say that he would continue and there has been no word from him or his friends since.
In the evening I switched to the Newcastle Legends and I was shocked by the attitude of Bernard Slaven and Mick Horsewell. Their attitude and behaviour was infantile and totally inappropriate for the situation. They tried to retrieve their position during the programme by saying they had a lot of regard for Kevin Keegan and the fans but they clearly had lost the plot. Only Malcolm MacDonald appeared to realise the gravity of the situations and its potential implications. Later I wrote to him to explain why I would never listen to the programme again and also explained to Messrs Slaven and Horsewell my reasons for adopting the position.
I awoke eightish on Wednesday to a spokesman for the professional managers association explain that Kevin had been in touch with them last night and that he had not resigned and that it there would be talks between the club, Kevin and respective advisers over the next days to try and resolve issues of mutual concern. The attempt to sell Michael Owen and Joey Barton by the Board using Mr Wise is reported to have been the catalyst as well as the overall situation where Keegan found he had no control, and little power over which players came to club and which left. The root cause appears to be that the club was being run foremost as a business when Keegan was being used as front expect to motivate whatever players were available to win, without regard to what could be expected in today's market. Keegan a man of integrity and love for the club and its supporters realised he could go no further and attempted to change the position and the board in turn created a situation to force him to leave tantamount to constructive dismissal. This is the way the situation is now being presented.
How far this was with the prior approval of the owner Mike Ashley who likes to stand on the terraces wearing a shirt King Kevin and was caught on camera at Arsenal downing a pint, which he afterwards said he thought was non alcohol lager, may never become known as usually in such a situation there is a confidentiality undertaking entered when the situation is agreed. This is usually because of the financial settlement reached. However I cannot see Kevin, the league managers Association, the players, the supporters or local media and media in general being prepared to accept such a situation and it is evident that those involved now face the starkest of choices. If Keegan stays then this will only be on his terms in that he will need to be told how much money is available for new players and then it his responsibility and his alone to spend that money in terms of players in and layers out whoever actually conducts the deals and sorts out the legal and financial equipments of the Premiership and company law. There is no other acceptable alternative. If Keegan departs then I will join anyone and everyone to organise a boycott of the club until ownership changes hands and the present administration is replaced. I would be surprised if I was not joined by thousands, if not tens of thousands of others. The choice is therefore simple.
This morning there was no such dream and I awoke contentedly around 8am, started to write, made myself an coffee and two slices of toast, determined to start on a house and to attend to other practical matters and some project work. I switched on the TV for the news channels including Sky Sports News to learn the reaction to the events of yesterday and early on, I cannot remember the precise time, that there was news that Kevin Keegan had been called to a meeting with the Newcastle Board. There was a photo of Terry McDermott taking a phone call or making a phone call at the training ground. So for the first part of the morning the impression was that Kevin had walked out of the club as he did not return to the training ground, and this was because of a disagreement with the board, presumed to be over the buying and selling of players following injuries to key existing members of the team. There is also believed to have been a disagreement over the future of Joey Barton and whether he should be sold should the opportunity arise during the transfer period. I also wondered about the position of Michael Owen.
By early afternoon Sky were reporting that Kevin Keegan had been sacked by the board. Only later when the club issued a statement on their internet site saying he had not been sacked did Sky confirm that Keegan had told his friends that he had been sacked.
During the afternoon various young people and some not so young assembled by the ground calling for the Owner and the Director of Football to resign. There were hundreds if not thousands of emails and texts delivered to the Sky from season ticket holders and supporters saying they would not set foot in the ground if Keegan left while Ashley and Wise remained in position. Several well known former players including John Beresford expressed their concern, explained that the departure of Keegan would be disastrous for the club. He, at least I think it was who appealed to those involved to resolve their differences for the future good of the club.
By late afternoon a promised statement from the club had not been issued and it was early evening before a statement was made, not to the press, but on the club internet site. This said that Kevin had not been sacked and that the club wanted him to continue with the club as manager and pursue the strategy to progress the club. Thus the statement did not say that he would continue and there has been no word from him or his friends since.
In the evening I switched to the Newcastle Legends and I was shocked by the attitude of Bernard Slaven and Mick Horsewell. Their attitude and behaviour was infantile and totally inappropriate for the situation. They tried to retrieve their position during the programme by saying they had a lot of regard for Kevin Keegan and the fans but they clearly had lost the plot. Only Malcolm MacDonald appeared to realise the gravity of the situations and its potential implications. Later I wrote to him to explain why I would never listen to the programme again and also explained to Messrs Slaven and Horsewell my reasons for adopting the position.
I awoke eightish on Wednesday to a spokesman for the professional managers association explain that Kevin had been in touch with them last night and that he had not resigned and that it there would be talks between the club, Kevin and respective advisers over the next days to try and resolve issues of mutual concern. The attempt to sell Michael Owen and Joey Barton by the Board using Mr Wise is reported to have been the catalyst as well as the overall situation where Keegan found he had no control, and little power over which players came to club and which left. The root cause appears to be that the club was being run foremost as a business when Keegan was being used as front expect to motivate whatever players were available to win, without regard to what could be expected in today's market. Keegan a man of integrity and love for the club and its supporters realised he could go no further and attempted to change the position and the board in turn created a situation to force him to leave tantamount to constructive dismissal. This is the way the situation is now being presented.
How far this was with the prior approval of the owner Mike Ashley who likes to stand on the terraces wearing a shirt King Kevin and was caught on camera at Arsenal downing a pint, which he afterwards said he thought was non alcohol lager, may never become known as usually in such a situation there is a confidentiality undertaking entered when the situation is agreed. This is usually because of the financial settlement reached. However I cannot see Kevin, the league managers Association, the players, the supporters or local media and media in general being prepared to accept such a situation and it is evident that those involved now face the starkest of choices. If Keegan stays then this will only be on his terms in that he will need to be told how much money is available for new players and then it his responsibility and his alone to spend that money in terms of players in and layers out whoever actually conducts the deals and sorts out the legal and financial equipments of the Premiership and company law. There is no other acceptable alternative. If Keegan departs then I will join anyone and everyone to organise a boycott of the club until ownership changes hands and the present administration is replaced. I would be surprised if I was not joined by thousands, if not tens of thousands of others. The choice is therefore simple.
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