Happy Face 29 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Les Ferdinand fears for the future of Newcastle because he believes Kevin Keegan has not been given the backing he was promised when he returned to St James' Park last season. The 41-year-old former England striker, one of the stars of Keegan's Newcastle team who twice challenged for the Premier League title in the Nineties, was hoping billionaire owner Mike Ashley would reinvigorate the club over the summer after yet another season of disappointment. But, so far, the new hierarchy of executive director (football) Dennis Wise, vice-president (player recruitment) Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere, technical co-ordinator, have managed to bring in only Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie. Keegan, along with one of his senior players Shay Given, has been forced to appeal for more players to be brought into one of the Premier League's smallest squads - and yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Championship newcomers Doncaster by an injury-ravaged team will only reinforce that request. Ferdinand, who scored 50 goals in only 84 Newcastle appearances, is dismayed at the lack of progress and has seen the effect on Keegan after his emotional and much-heralded return in January. 'He is a different Kevin Keegan to the one who signed me,' said Ferdinand. 'He was a bit more effervescent back in those days. This time around I think he's come to a club in turmoil. 'There was turmoil the first time when the club were in danger of falling into the third tier of English football, but he was able to revolutionise everything and turn it all around. 'When he came back, the expectations were so high that the Messiah had returned, and from day one everything was going to be all right. But, to be realistic, it was always going to take time. 'What we were expecting this summer was that, because Mike Ashley had wanted a new manager and got rid of Sam Allardyce quickly, they were pushing in the right direction and were going to invest and give Keegan the money to see what would happen. It doesn't look like that has happened.' Ferdinand witnessed the effect on Keegan of his eight-match winless worries me a little. I fear for Newcastle because they need continuity and I think everyone needs to gel together. You're just not seeing that at the moment. There seems to be one person on one track and one on another pulling against each other. It's never going to work if that's the case. 'It's clear to me that what was sold to Keegan has not been delivered. He said when he joined he had the same ideas as the chairman of where he wanted to take the club.' Ferdinand said that despite the constant rumours around the club, involving owner Ashley selling up and the possibility of Keegan quitting if things do not go his way, he does not expect the ex-England manager to walk out. 'Kevin's done it so many times - walked away from different jobs - that people will always ask whether he will revert to that,' said Ferdinand. 'I personally don't think Keegan will walk away from this. If he did, that would be it. We'd never see him in football management again. start. 'I was there on the day of his first match back,' said the former QPR and Spurs goalscorer at the launch of the New Football Pools, for whom he is a pundit. 'It was a 5.30pm start and he was in there two-and-a-half hours before the game. Kevin, Terry McDermott and myself were reminiscing about the old times and he was bubbly and bright. Everything was like the Keegan of old. 'But over a period of weeks I slowly saw that drain out of him. He got a bit of impetus back with that first win and then, over the summer, you thought that things were going to happen. But then you start hearing rumours that he's not going to be able to buy the players he wants. He definitely needs to spend. But one of the problems he faces is that when I signed for him he was a big attraction for me to join Newcastle. Do players nowadays remember Kevin Keegan? Is he such a pull as he used to be as a manager? 'He's gone out to get some targets and he's not been able to get them. That 'The previous board backed him. They didn't sack him, he walked away. Ever since, it's mostly been a succession of managers who have gone in for a year or two and then they've got rid of them. 'Newcastle need to give someone the time and opportunity to do the job and perhaps they can be successful in the end. It's pretty clear that they are not going to challenge for the top four in the new season. It's going to take four or five years for that to happen and Keegan may not even be there.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-suffering.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7318 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Im sure he could do without ex players saying that sort of shit to the press, especially ones hes supposedly close too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Im sure he could do without ex players saying that sort of shit to the press, especially ones hes supposedly close too Disagree. These to me look like very important comments, coming as it does from someone like Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Im sure he could do without ex players saying that sort of shit to the press, especially ones hes supposedly close too Disagree. These to me look like very important comments, coming as it does from someone like Les. Saying it because he cares about the club rather than just to stir the shit imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Im sure he could do without ex players saying that sort of shit to the press, especially ones hes supposedly close too Disagree. These to me look like very important comments, coming as it does from someone like Les. Saying it because he cares about the club rather than just to stir the shit imo. Yup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7318 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Shay has said the same stuff 4 years running. KK said the same last week. I dont see why it was needed again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Shay has said the same stuff 4 years running. KK said the same last week. I dont see why it was needed again I think it's just cause he cares about us really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Sir Les isn't known for chatting to the press. He's certainly not trying to stir the pot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 "Yes Mr Pools media man, pay me £5000 to be at your re-launch and I guarantee you'll get a mention in the news the next day" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshadow 0 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I'm not sure it helps at all because people expect ex players know the inside info on the club, when in fact they know very little unless they spend a bit of time at the club on a regular basis, or are locals still in the area. I've read some of the worst uninformed shit about our club from some ex players than from most journos. The only one who gets it right nearly every single time is Dalglish who is actually at every home match and still lives here. The worst has been Steve McMahon who lives and works in Asia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I'm not sure it helps at all because people expect ex players know the inside info on the club, when in fact they know very little unless they spend a bit of time at the club on a regular basis, or are locals still in the area. I've read some of the worst uninformed shit about our club from some ex players than from most journos. The only one who gets it right nearly every single time is Dalglish who is actually at every home match and still lives here. The worst has been Steve McMahon who lives and works in Asia. I always had the feeling he had a soft spot for the blue side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 All this has been obvious for ages now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1321 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Didnt Ferdinand mention something about worrying about Spurs in Satda's Mirror? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Unless Keegan or a player has told Sir Les something, then I think it's best he keeps quiet. It's not helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaythesouthernmag 0 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would say Les has got it spot on its debatable wheather he should have said it to the press tho` I think it would take a lot for KK to walk away from us BUT if he does the blame will lay with Ashley and his band of merry men.I reckon Owens new deal will be a key factor in this I would say if Ashley would have told Kev that this was the way he wanted to run the club he wouldnt have taken the job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would say Les has got it spot on its debatable wheather he should have said it to the press tho` I think it would take a lot for KK to walk away from us BUT if he does the blame will lay with Ashley and his band of merry men.I reckon Owens new deal will be a key factor in this I would say if Ashley would have told Kev that this was the way he wanted to run the club he wouldnt have taken the job Despite Keegan saying himself just yesterday that he has no regrets whatsoever, he's thoroughly happy to be back, and Ashley might just be the perfect chairman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaythesouthernmag 0 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would say Les has got it spot on its debatable wheather he should have said it to the press tho` I think it would take a lot for KK to walk away from us BUT if he does the blame will lay with Ashley and his band of merry men.I reckon Owens new deal will be a key factor in this I would say if Ashley would have told Kev that this was the way he wanted to run the club he wouldnt have taken the job Despite Keegan saying himself just yesterday that he has no regrets whatsoever, he's thoroughly happy to be back, and Ashley might just be the perfect chairman? Hardly likely to come out and say "that Ashleys a right tight fucker and his cockney hangers on wont sign any of the players I want", which I would say is nearer to the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would say Les has got it spot on its debatable wheather he should have said it to the press tho` I think it would take a lot for KK to walk away from us BUT if he does the blame will lay with Ashley and his band of merry men.I reckon Owens new deal will be a key factor in this I would say if Ashley would have told Kev that this was the way he wanted to run the club he wouldnt have taken the job Despite Keegan saying himself just yesterday that he has no regrets whatsoever, he's thoroughly happy to be back, and Ashley might just be the perfect chairman? Hardly likely to come out and say "that Ashleys a right tight fucker and his cockney hangers on wont sign any of the players I want", which I would say is nearer to the truth. Not entirely disimilar to what he's been heard to say about his previous chairmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would say Les has got it spot on its debatable wheather he should have said it to the press tho` I think it would take a lot for KK to walk away from us BUT if he does the blame will lay with Ashley and his band of merry men.I reckon Owens new deal will be a key factor in this I would say if Ashley would have told Kev that this was the way he wanted to run the club he wouldnt have taken the job Despite Keegan saying himself just yesterday that he has no regrets whatsoever, he's thoroughly happy to be back, and Ashley might just be the perfect chairman? Hardly likely to come out and say "that Ashleys a right tight fucker and his cockney hangers on wont sign any of the players I want", which I would say is nearer to the truth. Keegan would walk away if he was peeved with Ashley. I don't believe he really needed or wanted to come back into football management and he took some persuading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Im sure he could do without ex players saying that sort of shit to the press, especially ones hes supposedly close too Disagree. These to me look like very important comments, coming as it does from someone like Les. Saying it because he cares about the club rather than just to stir the shit imo. Yup. It's a bit worrying, whether just from the heart or to maybe help get something kick-started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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