keegan on his way back to toon land , maybe

[boboafc]

BACK IN TOON?

Kevin Keegan has become the bookmakers' new favourite to become the next Newcastle manager - just eight days after quitting. He is reportedly meeting owner Mike Ashley.

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Kevin Keegan has reportedly met with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley - and is now the bookies' favourite to return to the manager's job at St James' Park.

 

Just eight days after handing in his resignation, reports suggest Keegan was meeting with club owner Mike Ashley on Friday night in London - and that prompted the bookmakers to slash their prices or even suspend their markets.

 

Sky Bet cut Keegan into their 8/11 favourite for the job, although the odds then drifted back out to 5/4. Paddy Power stopped taking bets after slashing their price in from 7/1 to evens in next to no time.

 

William Hill also closed their book after "a string of bets placed by customers in Glasgow (where Keegan's Soccer Circus business is based), Newcastle and London".

 

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "The bets placed during the day had raised an eyebrow or two, although none of them was for more that £50, but their location was interesting.

 

"However, following news of the Ashley meeting and not knowing whether this means an interest in coming back or just that they are discussing a settlement, we decided to close the book."

 

Keegan quit after a row over the management structure at St James' Park where Dennis Wise holds the role of executive director (football).

 

The former England boss was not happy that he did not have the final say over the comings and goings of players - something the club later denied.

 

Keegan said after quitting: "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."

 

Fans have been left furious at Ashley with the vast majority still wanting Keegan in charge of their team.

 

Numerous supporters' groups had planned protests at and before Saturday's home Premier League game with Hull.

 

Spurs' assistant manager Gustavo Poyet, who has worked with wise in the past at Leeds, had been the previous favourite, while Paul Ince had also been linked with the post.

 

Keegan made a celebrated return to Newcastle in January when he replaced Sam Allardyce, whose reign at the club had been short and unsuccessful.

 

Although his team struggled in his opening games, Keegan had Newcastle playing attractive football towards the end of the season and an impressive run of results saw them pull well clear of relegation danger.

 

Hopes for this season were high, and the signings of players including Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez appeared to strengthen Keegan's squad.

 

However, the dealings in the final week of the transfer window left Keegan dispirited and led to his departure.

 

Keegan's assistant Terry McDermott and reserve team coach Adam Sadler have also left the club this week.

 

McDermott had been taking first-team coaching since Keegan's position at the club were first cast into doubt on September 2.

 

McDermott had a long coaching association with the club dating back to Keegan's first stint in charge in 1992

Edited September 12, 2008 by boboafc

[boboafc]

it looks like some of the toon army will be boycotting todays game with hull , as talk's with keegan and ashley broke down last night

 

 

Ask Kevin Keegan. Ask any fan. You could even try asking Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Newcastle United, except he doesn't do interviews.

 

And that's part of the problem. Communication between the club and the fans is almost non-existent these days. In fact, the relationship has broken down to the point where the fans will gather in their thousands this afternoon to protest.

 

Newcastle United v Hull City in the Premier League will not make the headlines, but what happens outside St James' Park will.

 

The team can win this match 6-0 but the headlines will be dominated by the anger and frustration vented outside Shearer's Bar. Another episode in what has become a footballing soap opera. Toon Army? Cartoon Army more like.

 

 

 

'King Kev' resigned last week

 

"Nobody listens to us, so the best way to make yourself heard is to stop buying official merchandise, then they'll listen," one Newcastle fan told me.

 

It's a view that is repeated in the city's many pubs and clubs and in the online chatrooms where fans bemoan the latest dark chapter in their history.

 

Former Newcastle United player Peter Beardsley has appealed for calm and is urging supporters to get behind the team.

 

"Everyone knows how special this club and its fans are, so the best thing to do is to show the rest of the country," said the former England star. "We have to get behind the players and now is the time to unite."

 

 

 

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley

Founded Sports World in 1982: The business went from third place in the UK sportwear sector to first place in only three years. Estimated wealth - up to £1.9b: Netted £929m in one day after floating 43% stake in Sports World. Keeps private life private: Reportedly paid out £50m in a divorce settlement in 2002, but information and photographs from Ashley's past are rare.

 

 

 

 

 

It's still not clear whether Mr Ashley will take his seat in the stadium for this afternoon's game, and if he does, whose name will be on the back of his replica Newcastle shirt. One thing's certain, it won't be 'King Kev'.

 

The latest whisper on Tyneside is that the shortlist to replace "The Messiah" is down to three names - Paul Ince, Didiers Deschamps and Gus Poyet.

 

All three have significant pedigrees as players, but they're not what the NUFC fans want. You get the distinct impression that some won't be happy until Keegan comes back for what would be a third term as manager of Newcastle.

 

Could it happen? In the crazy world of Newcastle United FC anything is possible. Anything...

[boboafc]

after todays game , i think that keegan should stay away after the toons lost at home 2-1 to hull