This is the article from wor alan and indeed alan where do we start/james WHERE do we start? What I do know is that right now people are laughing at the football club I support. And that sickens me. I promised myself years ago never to be surprised by what happens in football — particularly when it comes to Newcastle. But this situation really is stretching it a bit. While other clubs are all plotting and planning for next season, Newcastle have a manager who has just been totally undermined. Alan Pardew has said he will carry on but I am sure it will be a difficult situation. I ask one question of Joe Kinnear: Would you stand for it, if you were manager? Someone else coming out in the national media announcing they are the Director of Football before even the club have made it official. Someone else basically taking control of who comes in and who goes out. As for that announcement, what are the players to think when he can’t even get their names right. It’s all a PR disaster. Also, it’s no way to treat a man who 12 months ago was enjoying the fact he had been voted Manager of the Year for guiding Newcastle to fifth place in the Premier League. His silence on the appointment of Kinnear himself over recent days said it all. But what could he say? He is in such an intolerable position. He can’t come out and slaughter his employers but at the same time he can’t agree with a situation which no manager would find comfortable. Take this for a statement from then managing director Derek Llambias, or ‘Director of Football Derek Lambayzee’ if you prefer. He said: “Joe will report directly to the club’s board as the senior executive in charge of all football related matters. “Chief Scout Graham Carr and manager Alan Pardew will report into Joe.” Pardew cannot stand for that, he was even named third in the statement when he should be the MOST important person on the staff. As it is, the man who issued that statement resigned yesterday. Clearly Llambias was too unhappy at what was going on. Why else would he go? I have another issue with Kinnear. Over the last few days he has banged on about how Newcastle would never have gone down had he not had his health problems and stayed on in the job to the end of the 2008-09 season. The implication being that it was first Chris Hughton and then my fault for the club being relegated. I had eight games as manager at the end of the season, won one, drew two and lost the rest. So, yes, I take my share of responsibility. But Kinnear had 19 league games in charge that season and won just four, taking 20 points. Indeed, before he was admitted to hospital with heart problems ahead of the West Brom away win on February 7, Newcastle had taken just two points from their previous 18. Chris Hughton could not arrest the slide in his brief role as caretaker, and nor could I. Given the downtrodden, disjointed group of players I took on, it would have been something special if I had. So it’s about time Kinnear took some responsibility for what happened as well. It was a real eye-opener when I did take charge for those final games. The team wasn’t just a mess, the club was a mess. Now I can’t say I know Mike Ashley well at all. But he just keeps making too many decisions that are alienating the Newcastle fans, including the one that saw him even briefly rename St James’ Park. After last season the club had the perfect opportunity to strengthen the side but it didn’t happen. And with the extra burden of the Europa League, Newcastle struggled. Pardew did not become a bad manager overnight but he needs support this summer, not the rug pulled from under him. I hope it all works out, I really do. Kinnear has a good football background — if not quite the one he would have us think after that questionable interview. Who knows, he may turn out to be the best director of football this country has ever had. But, you know what? I just have this sneaking feeling that it will not all go quite to plan. And who is left picking up the pieces again? Yes, the loyal fans. Kinnear says they are Geordies who just want Geordies in charge. What? Like Doncaster-born Kevin Keegan? Kinnear has made it very difficult for himself with his public pronouncements from the start. Right now the club is once again approaching a new season from a position of instability. But still the fans will come. Still they will give their support. Those 52,000 who turn up at the ground and the many more who remain loyal to the club. Their patience is tested time and again. They will not go away but they deserve better — much better.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:24:41 +0000
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