Friday 27 November 2015 10:03, UK
Kevin Keegan has blasted the players at Newcastle and says not even Steve McClaren can turn around the fortunes of his old club.
The mood within the Magpies squad is reported to be one of disharmony, with Sky Sports News HQ stating this week that McClaren delivered a few "home truths" to the squad after a training ground bust up - with skipper Fabricio Coloccini singled out for criticism.
It is understood the manager and his coaching team were caught up in a stand-up row with several players on Monday as McClaren accused them of lacking the determination needed to represent the club.
Keegan, twice a manager at St James' Park, told beIN Sports: "This club is going nowhere at the moment and that's very sad.
"I don't think Steve McClaren realised how poor the squad was when he took over. Those players remind me of when I took over all those years ago when they were in the second division. The players' biggest problem was the club was too big for them.
"That's a massive stadium to come out in. For some people, it makes you grow - for the right players, the [Alan] Shearers, [David] Ginolas, people like that, that I had they just grew in it, but these players are shrinking in it."
Newcastle have won just two out of 13 Premier League games since the former England boss picked up the reins in the summer and they are hovering one place above the drop zone.
Keegan, whose last spell managing the club ended in 2008, expressed sympathy for the club's suffering fans.
He added: "The supporters want to see players having a go and relate to them and I don't think they can with this team.
"Sadly, they won't stop coming to games. I think if ever they did boycott a game completely, I think it would get the stronger message across.
"But they can't do it, the Geordies. Every time they think they're going to do it they think, 'What do I do? I always go to the game', and they turn up."
