January 31st, 2008

9:44am Thursday 31st January 2008

SIR Alex Ferguson once claimed that Dennis Wise was "capable of starting a fight in an empty room". For supporters of Newcastle United, the more pertinent question now is whether the club's new executive director is capable of being similarly disruptive in a suit.

For all that Kevin Keegan claims Wise has been appointed with both his knowledge and his blessing, the 41-yearold's arrival has the potential to create disruption and destruction in equal measure.

In the 24 hours since Wise was installed in his new executive position, three salient questions have emerged. How will his position dovetail with that of Keegan? Is he qualified to take on the wide-ranging strategic role he has been offered?

And is his appointment simply further proof of the power and influence wielded by the London-based cabal that has developed around owner Mike Ashley?

Early attention has focused on the first point, partly because the media machine loves a personality clash, and partly because Keegan has form for walking away when things are not to his liking.

The omens are certainly not good. Whenever the English game has experienced anything remotely resembling the continental- style director of football model in the past, it has tended to end in tears.

Martin Jol's relationship with Damien Comolli at White Hart Lane broke down once Tottenham's French director of football assumed control of transfer affairs, and it is hard to imagine Keegan being too enamoured with the prospect of Wise pursuing players.

If Wise is to restrict his involvement to Academy level, there is no reason why the system cannot work. A lack of emerging talent has hampered Newcastle's progress in recent years, and other Premier League clubs have stolen a march on the Magpies when it comes to poaching youngsters from across the globe.

But if Wise begins to stray on to Keegan's first-team terrain, a clash is surely inevitable. And given the former Leeds manager's close personal relationship with Ashley and new vice-president, Tony Jimenez, the current Newcastle boss is unlikely to be the winner of the battle.

Keegan remains confident such a scenario can be avoided, but even if Wise keeps himself out of areas that could lead to conflict, there are still massive question marks over his ability to perform any of the tasks that will be asked of him.

Since swapping the dressing room for the dug out, Wise has struggled to throw off his unrefined and thuggish reputation.

His managerial experience is limited to Football League level, and his achievements in scouting and player development have been confined to the identification and purchase of the likes of Tresor Kandol and Alan Thompson. He has an intricate knowledge of FA disciplinary procedure, but only because he has been charged three times in the last 12 months.

Newcastle's future direction is effectively going to be in Wise's hands, and in an era where visionaries such as Arsene Wenger and Frank Arnesen have transformed the notion of long-term strategic planning, is there really going to be a place for a footballing throwback boasting a cheekychappy persona and the gift of the gab?

Wise's credentials for the post appear to stretch no further than his close personal relationship with Ashley, Jimenez and former Tottenham director Paul Kemsley, and despite everything else that has been written, it is the strength of this London-based alliance that is the most troubling aspect of this week's developments.

Given Wise and Jimenez's perceived lack of executive expertise, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that Ashley's latest raft of appointments amount to little more than a series of jobs for the boys.

A small number of people are wielding a disproportionate amount of power, and a general lack of transparency is only adding to the impression of a club that is moving further and further away from its North- East roots.

Having shelled out £250m to buy Newcastle United and pay off the club's debts, Ashley is, of course, entitled to do whatever he wants.

But the feeling of goodwill that accompanied his replacement of Freddy Shepherd will quickly begin to dissipate if Newcastle supporters feel their club is being treated as nothing more than a plaything. For all that Ashley claims to be a man of the people, he would do well to remember that his people' are based in the North-East, not the East End.

MATHEW TAIT must be sick of the sight of Wales. In 2005, the youngster was unceremoniously dropped from the England side after a defeat to Wales in the opening round of Six Nations matches. Three years on, and he has not even got that far.

If Andy Robinson's decision to drop Tait was indefensible, then Brian Ashton's refusal to pick him in his 22-man squad for this weekend's Six Nations opener is illogical.

Tait was England's best player in last October's World Cup final, the only back to offer any hint of the expansive, running game Ashton claims to be keen to develop.

But Ashton has gone for the same old players, playing the same old game, with Tait sacrificed at the altar of English rugby's bloody-minded refusal to look to the future.

Editor's Choice

Editor's Choice