Carry On up the Toon

Last updated: 18th March 2008

John Richardson

John Richardson: Give KK a chance

Instead of St. James' Park it is Sid James' Park.

John Richardson
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Far from being the second coming of the Geordie messiah, the return of Kevin Keegan to Newcastle has descended into one long, miserable farce for the Toon faithful.

Eight games into KK's second reign at Newcastle and the club is still waiting for a first win. Two draws and six defeats in his two-month tenure means the pressure is well and truly on Keegan's shoulders as the club he loves slides towards the bottom three.

But while there are those voicing their disapproval of Keegan, John Richardson of the Sunday Express has stood by the former England manager saying the farce at Newcastle is not of his making.

"An ex-Newcastle player said to me the other day it is like a Carry On film up there. Instead of St. James' Park it is Sid James' Park," he said on the Sunday Supplement.

"I am afraid it is a serious matter. I absolve Kevin Keegan of all blame here because I think the shambles is going on behind him.

"They have got an owner in Mike Ashley who talks to Paul Kemsley a lot, the ex-Tottenham vice-chairman, who has helped him bring in people like Dennis Wise (executive director), Tony Jimenez (international director or whatever) and it is all brackets up there.

"In the old days Kevin Keegan, if he wanted a player, would just go to Sir John Hall's office and the two would speak. Now it is a committee of six or seven.

"It is a complete farce and it is how not to run a football club.

"Half of them still reside in London. Half of the club is run from London and you can't run a football club like that."

As for Keegan, Richardson argued that he should be given time to prove himself and not judged on what has happened since January.

"Kevin Keegan is suffering because he hasn't been able to go into the transfer market yet," he said.

"People are having a go at Keegan. I say let Keegan have the money in the summer and let's judge him next season. But ideally I would like another takeover at the club.

"You have got to give him a chance. In fairness to Keegan, they have had difficult games. They have played the Arsenals, the Manchester Uniteds twice, but let's judge Keegan at the end of the season.

"Hopefully they will escape."

Comments

Joseph Roberts (Newcastle United fan) says...

I don't see why people are getting on Keegans back. With what the last 3 managers have done before him he's virtually back to square one. He's not a magician and with no more than 4 players who may get into a top four squad (Given, Taylor, Martins,Milner) i don't see what people expect really. The only pace we have in the side is martins (the top scorer) and he never plays cos owen is english and used to be good. Fat Sam got rid of dyer and solano and replaced them with smith which makes a whole lot of sense. One win and i think we'll be ok, lets just hope keegan gets the chance to put his magic touch back on the club in the summer and bring back the fast, free flowing football that made me a fan all those years ago.

Posted 13:27 17th March 2008

Oswald Goff (Newcastle United fan) says...

Kevin is a great guy and his track record proves it.He is a great manager na dneeds the time to build what he is capable of building. I do understand that we need the results to stay in the league but be fair the man ha s not had a chance to work his magic.We are struggling because big sam has let go of players that would have got us results and had the heart to play for a team with so much passion and drive that it deserves. We can look at the players that were bought last season, misfits and players that dont really understand this great club is about. I will support this club no matter what happens but we need to give Kevin a chance , he will bring back th glory days and we will be up with the best were we belong.

Posted 05:53 17th March 2008

Amit Vinayak (Newcastle United fan) says...

Hi there.Having read the comments of the Sunday Express Editor about the way Newcastle is in dire trouble and the way the club is being run, I think its an absolute gimic. Ashley and Mort have no clue what they are doing and I'm afraid we are not moving forward in their presence.The players need to start showing their worth and most definitely Keegan needs to be giving millions to spend in the summer and I also think we need another takeover at the club with someone who knows about football. Newcastle Utd are in the wrong end the table, we should be in the top four but we are needing new players and much more to go forward.

Posted 13:14 16th March 2008

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