Latest twist in tangled plot descends into forlorn farce

[Jimbo 175]

If, as has been reported this week, Mike Ashley truly has designs on building an empire in Hollywood, his spell at Newcastle United will have served as a decent rehearsal. No plotline would be too implausible, no cast-list too jarring, no finale too dramatic and if the finished product would lack cohesion, somehow — in spite of everything — it would make compulsive viewing.

 

Into the combustible mix of maverick billionaire owner, charismatic manager, a passionate support and decades of yearning, has been thrust what would surely be the mother of all sequels. If, of course, the pitch is right.

 

Kevin Keegan IV: this time it’s personal. While an extraordinary prospect appears less certain this morning, if Keegan were to return to Tyneside after the events of the past fortnight, after the briefings and counter-briefings, the threats to sue, the tears and anger, nothing in the game could be held sacred or secure. But then this is an extraordinary club, populated by unconventional people, located in a febrile city.

 

While last night’s meeting between Ashley and Keegan broke up without a satisfactory conclusion — one senior figure in the club’s hierarchy maintained that the discussion was aimed at settling the dispute over Keegan’s contract, in spite of the curious public forum — Newcastle has again been electrified. With protests planned for today’s home match against Hull City, perhaps Ashley will have succeeded in subtly altering the mood.

 

It was only nine days ago that Keegan said: “It’s my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want.” The inference was obvious: Dennis Wise, the club’s executive director (football), was buying and selling players. On transfer deadline day, Michael Owen and Joey Barton were made available.

 

It was that, coupled with the failure to reinvest on experienced players the £12 million that Newcastle brought in from the sale of James Milner, which pushed Keegan to the precipice. Ashley and Wise were the villains of the episode and fans were propelled towards mutiny, but little at a club famed for its monochrome stripes is black and white. The main protagonists are hardly mundane.

 

For those students of Newcastle history, there are parallels. In March 1992, shortly after his first return to Gallowgate, Keegan walked out, remarking that the “job hadn’t turned out as the brochure had advertised”. At his home in Hampshire, he took a call from Sir John Hall, then Newcastle’s chairman. “There are only two people who can save Newcastle United Football Club,” Hall said. “And we are talking on the telephone.”

 

Did Ashley reach a similar conclusion as he surveyed the wreckage of his tenure at Newcastle? As he confronted the reality of a fan boycott of club merchandise and his Sports Direct outlets? As a man who has regularly worn his replica strip in away ends and stumped up for drinks in quayside nightclubs? As he imagined the sound of heated demonstrations outside the main reception of the ground?

 

One of the more intriguing elements of Newcastle’s latest descent into self-laceration has been how trivial the club’s search for a new manager has appeared. The issues have been Ashley’s ownership and Wise’s influence. A shortlist of candidates that featured Gus Poyet, Paul Ince and Didier Deschamps, all close associates of Wise and therefore tainted, fooled no one.

 

Given that Ashley has consistently denied reports that he would contemplate selling Newcastle — Anil Ambani, the Indian billionaire, called a halt yesterday to his attempts to purchase the club — he has had to confront the absolute necessity and near impossibility of winning back trust. Keegan would not guarantee it, but would serve as a balm to open wounds.

 

That talks took place at all suggests that Ashley, for all the distasteful elements of his regime, from a crass lack of communication, the failings in the transfer market and the disgraceful attempts to rubbish Keegan’s reputation, has stumbled upon recognition. The impasse that resulted confirms that, for all their willingness to contemplate the unthinkable, he and Keegan are stubborn men.

 

Wise and the existence of an acquisition department, headed by a de facto director of football, has always been the cause of most disagreement; it seems unreasonable to suppose that the dispute has moved on. Ashley is wedded to a model that will bring younger, hungrier (and therefore cheaper) players to Newcastle; Keegan does not operate well under restraint. He is a blue-skies manager.

 

Most Geordies will cling to the hope that a deal, however implausible, can be resurrected. Others may stop to wonder what such a volte-face would say about their owner and mean for their club, where Sam Allardyce was permitted to sign a host of staff, who were promptly dismissed, where Keegan was restored and betrayed, where continuity and stability are pipedreams. The scriptwriter needs a break.

 

Best of the web

 

Keegan wants to rename Newcastle — Keegan's Soccer Circus.

 

Posted by England 1957

 

This looks good on Ashley because he will say he tried everything to get him back, when he made a half-hearted attempt. I hope the protests continue -Andy

 

nufcblog.co.uk

 

It's just a publicity stunt so the fans forgive Mike Ashley before \ tomorrow . . . Bunned

 

bbc.co.uk/dna

 

Trust me Kev, he WON'T respect you in the morning . . . eezy_squeezy

 

bbc.co.uk/dna

 

God, this is unbelievable. Kevin Keegan is the only manager I want to manage us at the moment, but with Ashley and Wise here, I’m not sure I do want him. And if he does come back it will just be a complete joke and an embarrassment in my book.NUFC_cj www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk

 

It’s like being in a washing machine: spin, spin and more spin Wolfhound

 

nufcblog.co.uk

 

Adopt strong Geordie accent: “Day 52 in the St James’ Park house.” It’s only \ time before the cameras are installed for reality Toon! The Entertainers

 

nufcblog.co.uk

 

It just really confirms that the talks were about rectifying the situation so at least we know it’s getting to Mike Ashley. I take heart from the fact that they both wanted to meet to discuss the matter, it’s obvious KK wants to come back and MA realises we need him. jo1892

 

newcastleunited-mad.co.uk

 

Ashley wants investors — we know this to be true. \ Ambani will buy 50 per cent of club at £130m, but only if Keegan is reinstated to diminish the “unstable situation at the club” that Ambani and his advisers were talking about.

 

snakehips

 

toontastic.net

[Ketsbaia 0]

Snakehips - Toontastics very own Media luvvy.

[snakehips 0]

Hmmm, not sure if my comment was actually printed in the Times . I hope not, as it was obviously a load of bullshit from my keyboard. There are countless numbers of far superior comments posted by me over the years they can use though

[Fop 1]

 

 

 

The whole thing sucks though, more so because likely Keegan is still willing to work with Ashley (and therefore Newcastle), just not under the circumstances where he has players sold out from under him (or attempted to do so).

[trophyshy 7095]

where is the flogging a dead horse smiley?

[trophyshy 7095]

Edited September 13, 2008 by trophyshy

[peasepud 59]

Im just disgusted they didnt include....

 

Ashley, Wise LLambrini...theyre all cunts

Stevie toontastic.net

 

[Happy Face 29]

Hmmm, not sure if my comment was actually printed in the Times . I hope not, as it was obviously a load of bullshit from my keyboard. There are countless numbers of far superior comments posted by me over the years they can use though

 

You've shown us up like Snakey. You might as well stand outside St James' with a "Boycoutt" banner.

 

 

[Park Life 71]

....located in a febrile city.

Edited September 13, 2008 by Park Life