What now for Newcastle?

With Kevin Keegan a step away from the exit door at St James' Park, Newcastle United are once again in disarray.

The manager is upset at the lack of funds available to him during the summer transfer window and, despite Keegan's claims to the contrary, appears to have had little control over player comings and goings since he returned to the club in January.

The fairytale has very quickly turned into a horror story and Mike Ashley, the chairman, could very soon be looking for a new man to take the helm.

But who can he turn to? There was a shortage of big-name applicants when Sam Allardyce was sacked and there are even fewer now. Harry Redknapp turned down the chance at the turn of the year in favour of staying at Portsmouth - a decision that was vindicated when Pompey won the FA Cup in May. And other potential candidates will surely be looking at the board's in-house politics with a wariness that borders on derision.

What should happen at Newcastle now? Should the board resign? Should Ashley sell up? Should they convince Keegan to make a u-turn? And if KK does go, who should replace him?

Leave your comments in the box below.

Comments

[paul alexander]

Mike Ashley is a businessman with a reputation for playing hardball. Well kidda, we're going to see how hard you are. You've made the most monumental misjudgement in the history of my club, and by god, we've seen a few of them over the years. You have no idea of the whirlwind of passion and anger you've unleashed, but you'll understand over the coming weeks..............

[ipd]

Aa Leeds fan I have seen first hand what gross incompetance can do to a club. I would not worry, Ashley has been trying to sell for some time. Now that the USD is 1.77 to the pound, you will see a lot of interest from Gulf States, India et al who can now buy Sterling assets 10% cheaper. Watch this space, I reckon the Toon are in for a windfall, I only wish my club were too!!

[iain]

i love the percieved notion that the director of football is a highly succesfull role for every foreign sorry "continental" club.

only days ago schuster threatened to walk from real if they sold robinho. one of the spanish managers who nufc looked at turned down a job at valencia becuase he wanted full control over signings. another potential keegan replacement being named by the bookies deschamps resigned from juventus for similar reasons.

keegan was a dead man walking the day wise rolled up.

ashley is a fool if he says nufc is something you dont make a profit on yet his player trading begs to differ one more sale and hes in profit, selling barton would of seen to that as he tried. it also ties in with his buy em young sell them later when there any good transer policy,
which has been widely touted as the policy for nufc. he even refused selling the club to the guys that bought man city and anil ambani the 6th richest man in the world.

if his sole interest is to be a fan and have some fun im sure whoever took over the club would of given him 5 star treatment and tickets whenever he wanted. sounds to me that more likely he wanted a slice of the glory should nufc ever do anything which is hard when he wont even put his hand in his pocket to compete with much smaller clubs in the transfer market.

granted there were problems at nufc but it seems ashleys only made them worse wherever you look...from back room appointments, boardroom appointments, timings of managerial sackings, player recruitment, ticket pricing, seating arrangments he messed up.

[Peter Frost]

KK has to be in control like any other great manager. Wise's presence was always going to be a problem. KK is right to fight to mantain quality. Why were the board planning to sell Owen, Smith, Milner and Barton behind KK's back. regardless of opinions this undermines his position. NU need a big sponsor to back KK and rid Ashley/Wise & Co. He's the man to bring the glory back as before.

[Ian Tinn]

When you ask what Newcastle should do now, do you mean Mike Ashley (he has made his bed, so he must lie in it), KK (I have said for a week he should walk out), or the fans?

The fans should boycott home games and drive down the value of the club to wash Ashley out.

[Adam]

I'm in Los Angeles CA, and although I am primarily a Man United fan, I have always had a love for Newcastle United. I think the Magpies would be surprised by the level of interest in their club here in the US and those who like myself wish them well for their success. I am no expert but I think it would be terrible for the club if Kevin Keegan were to go. I know that if given free reign Kevin and ultimate control will put Newcastle up in the top of the Premiership. I think letting Milner go was a mistake. I think Joey Barton is a good player with a lot of heart and skill. I do like Mike Ashely too, and I think he is a fan, but Mike should support Kevin 100% and defer to his greater knowledge. Also whats important here is that the fans (including myself) want Kevin - doesn't that count for something?

[Robin Kempster]

As a Liverpool supporter, I'd be delighted to swap you Benitez for Keegan.

[KP]

If it does come to happen that Keegan has left NUFC again, it'll just prove all the critics right. Hopefully, NUFC is on the level, and they will all sort it out, but it sounds like it may be over before it really began again. Don't give up Kevin!

[Geoff - Newcastle]

I am an Arsenal fan from London who has just moved to Newcastle. I didn't really understand or realise the hype surrounding the Toon army but believe me everything you read about them being loyal and extremely vocal is 100% true! They really do love this club and want it to be a success!

People outside of Newcastle can be forgiven for erasing the memory that Newcastle are one of only six teams to play in the Champions league proper, however the geordies have not and why should they! This is a club that pursuaded many a good player to play at St James's Park, with good attacking football that the working class fans loved to pay to watch! People will complain that these fans are deluded and should forget about the past, but however they do have the right to be highly frustrated with the total ineptatude of the upper management! This is a team in the mid 90's who everyone loved watching, a team with the philosphy that if you scored 5 we will score six (well atleast try). They were playing attractive football under Keegan before Wenger came to our shores! the only difference was that the board at Arsenal saw something amazing in Wenger and maybe Wenger had a long term plan which i think Keegan never has!

You get the impression at the major clubs in Europe its the Manager that sells the club to prospective new players e.g Ferguson at Man Utd and Keane at Sunderland) I think it is amazinging that at Newcastle you have a thug like Dennis Wise introducing new players to the club instead of a european cup winner, european footballer of the year and an England Legend in Keegan!

There is a part of me which hopes they get relagated just so Ashley gets his! Although i have been told that when Newcastle is doing well it is even better of a place to live!

[Marty Price]

Hey here in the sstates we got a great shot of Ashley chug-a-luging his brew! I think that is what he is good at and should stick to it, and do us all proud!!

Moyes would be a good choice however he would be a fool to leave Everton for a club of similar size and with so much instablility. Newcastle need to get there house in order or they will struggle to attract real football talent.

[Paul D. Kay, God's Country]

Mike Ashley pulled off a massive coup in bringing back Keegan in January. It was a masterstroke, as Keegan was one of the few people likely to be afforded time to build some foundations. Not to take us into the promised land, but at least to start that journey.

And Ashley's close relationship with the ordinary man on the terraces also went down very well. Because he was seen to be a person who wanted to listen to the opinions of ardent, faithful supporters - his customers. And fair play to that.

But he's blown it big time, and the repercussions could be disasterous for this club both on and off the field. Certainly all credibility with the supporters has been lost, and he's likely to witness supporters voting with their feet in the thousands come the end of the season.

Surely it was obvious to even Ashley that the Keegan/Wise relationship was quickly going to come under severe strain. If his intention is now to install Wise as manager, watch out for a rebellion on the terraces.

Wise as manager? Pass the bucket, I'm going to be sick.

[Kristinn Bjarnason]

Im very unhappy as one of the Toons.
We need stability .. this is not part of it.

[Christopher Wright]

Best thing is for fans to boycott games from now on and that will drag down the value of the club so the city authorities and the fans can buy it maybe one day???

Also - support Whitley Bay and Blyth Spartans and Gateshead instead, a la AFC Wimbledon.

NUFC is not my club any more - and I go back to the Gowling and Supermac days.

[Postmodernist]

I've been outside St James's Park today. There weren't that many fans when I was there (80-100 at most). The mood was pretty dispondent. People don't want Wise. He hasn't got the pedigree that the role demands.

Some people said they would like to see Shearer or Moyes. However the most popular name was Roberto Mancini. People seem pretty excited that he might take over.

Before that happens they want to know why King Kev left.

Once that wound is healed then Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise will have to fly to Italy and persuade Roberto Mancini that his future lies in Newcastle upon Tyne.

[tommy]

Not mr 'wally' holloway, yes to Roberto Mancini

[Big fish]

Its great that Keegan has resigned again just goes to show all hype aint true about the man.
Mr ashley is a closet Makem FTM

[Chris]

BILL, he's the owner not the chairman. He can do what he likes during games.

[Geordie Blaydon]

Ian Holloway, next toon manager. You heard it here first

[GH]

No doubt the London media will portray this as Keegan walking again. But who can blame him? A nobody like Wise calling the shots on transfer dealings, a transfer policy based on "if it moves, sell it", media briefings which undermine the club's own players and a lack of respect for the guy you expect to front it. Good luck KK. This isn't my club anymore either.

[A J Cunningham]

My grandfather managed Newcastle in the 1930s on one of the few occasions the club won anything; since then my family had held shares in Newcastle United. When Mr Ashley bought the club last year I wrote to him, offering a loan of my grandfather's medal collection (including the FA Cup winner's medal) for the club museum and asking whether, given this family history, there was any way I could maintain my links with the club. As I write, I still await an answer to my letter. So, trying not to be too peeved, it is hard to escape the conclusion, considering the current travails, that the buck must stop somewhere and that must surely be with the owner. Perhaps, to be fair, it is still too early in his stewardship and supporters should give him more of a chance; but the comments above - shambles, joke, mess, gross interference - suggest time is running out.

[Bill]

The question posted was what should NUFC do next. The answer's simple really, what they should have done last time, and the time before that. Be honest with the fans about their ambitions and realistic expectations - stop pretending they're bigger or richer than they are - and then appoint a young, ambitious manager on that basis so everyone knows what's what. And then let the guy manage without the interference of a bunch of suits, hangers on and yes-men. Oh, and the chairman has to start acting like one - that means staying sober during games.

A Manager is brought in to do just that ... manage. Why can't the owner and the Board let Keegan do just that?

I defy any club who say they could perform any better given the pressures, ever changing squad and ever changing management. It's about time someone took hold, shook it all up and put their money where their mouth is. We have a great team, but without the support from above what can we expect? They need stability.

Open your eyes in your ivory tower, and remember that pigeons fly overhead.

[gb]

Then you all are Sunderland fans more than Newcastle fans... zzz

[Mikkel Winther Jensen]

What is clear is that Newcastle will probably not be able to attract any British manager to the club due to the structure in place, where the manager position is basically a glorified coach a la continental clubs. That might be a blessing in disguise though, as we all know how well things went with the appointment of Sam Allardyce and I don't really think there are any more talented available British managers than him at the moment.

Getting in a good Continental manager/coach who is used to not having a lot of influence over transfer proceedings would probably be the way to go. The only other available route, as far as I can see, is to appoint Mr. Wise to the job, but if he can't even be bothered to leave London for his employers, I honestly doubt his commitment to the club and whether he would want to be a full-blown manager with responsibility.