Kinnear stunned by treatment

Magpies boss surprised by media hounding

Last updated: 5th October 2008

Kinnear stunned by treatment

Kinnear: Surprised by treatment

I can see why people say Newcastle is one of the most difficult clubs in the country to manage.

Joe Kinnear
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Joe Kinnear has stated he could never have envisaged the treatment he has received since becoming Newcastle United's interim manager.

The former Nottingham Forest and Wimbledon manager has come under fire from all angles after agreeing to come to the club's aid following Kevin Keegan's exit.

All the cheap shots at Kinnear came to a head earlier this week when the 61-year-old swore an amazing 52 times in a five-minute rant at a number of national newspaper journalists.

Kinnear does not regret his actions and says he will continue to speak his mind, but his actions have been criticised by the League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

Harsh treatment

"I've got to hold my hands up, I didn't think I'd be treated the way I have been with all the cheap shots," explained Kinnear.

"I didn't realise football had got to that stage. I've got a short temper, I've got a short fuse, I'm well aware of that. I say what I believe and I'm never going to change.

"There have been people saying I've had two heart attacks and I'm ready for a third, others saying I need my head examined. I didn't envisage any of this, not in the slightest, and maybe I'm naive because of that.

"I was in a state of shock and just couldn't believe it, it's sickening. I can see why people say Newcastle is one of the most difficult clubs in the country to manage."

League Managers' Association chief executive Bevan has described Kinnear's outburst as "unacceptable".

"Whether it's a manager, owner or even supporter, such heavy use of language is unacceptable, when in a public arena," he told Five Live's Sportsweek programme.