Ashley confident Keegan is man to turn Magpies around
MIKE ASHLEY remains convinced
that his first managerial
appointment, Kevin Keegan, is
the man to bring success back to
Newcastle United after a fourhour
meeting in London yesterday.
There had been fears on Tyneside
Keegan was ready to walk
away from St James' Park for a
second time after being summoned
to the capital following
the stir he caused by comments
made after Monday's 2-0 defeat to
Chelsea.
But he emerged from detailed
discussions with his position intact
and chairman Chris Mort
has since labelled the gathering
as both productive and constructive'.
Along with Ashley, Keegan
and Mort, newly-appointed
deputy chairman Derek Llambias,
executive director (football)
Dennis Wise and vice-president
(player recruitment) Tony
Jimenez were all in attendance.
And, while the manager's
claims that Newcastle were a
million miles' from challenging
the top four were discussed, the
basis of negotiations centred
around a plan of action for recruitment
this summer.
Keegan and Wise are thought
to have sifted through a list of potential
acquisitions, while the
size of the budget aimed at attracting
new players to the club
was discussed.
The meeting is also thought to
have brought up ways of trying
to improve communication between
Keegan and the Newcastle
hierarchy, given how he also
highlighted a lack of dialogue
with the club's billionaire owner
since taking charge in January.
What remains clear, however,
is that the worshipped Magpies
boss has no intention of changing
his ways. Before the meeting,
he suggested he felt it was his job
to tell supporters the truth.
"Part of my job as manager of
Newcastle United is to tell fans
what's happening at their club,"
said Keegan. "Part of the media's
job is to report it correctly and
keep it in context and not go off
on tangents.
"You can take the same phrase
three different ways, and it can
mean three different things. You
know that. I will continue to do
what I have always done while I
have been manager of Newcastle
United, and at Manchester City
and at Fulham and with England.
I haven't changed. I am not
scared of saying what I think and
I won't change that."
The uncertainty surrounding
the manager's position stemmed
from his honest assessment of
the Premier League title after
Newcastle lost to Chelsea.
Tomorrow will see Newcastle
take on Everton, a side in fifth
place and with a desire to make
the top four become a top five
within the next couple of years.
Only yesterday Toffees boss
David Moyes insisted he has the
hunger and determination to deliver
Champions League football
to Goodison Park. Keegan, however,
does not rate his chances.
"Everton are where we want to
be," said Keegan. "As I said at my
first press conference, if you turn
this club around, whoever it is, it
is like a big ship. When you turn
it round, the momentum starts to
go with you and it can go quicker
than most clubs you know.
"You can shortcut challenges
and to get from where we are to
try and get sixth or fifth place
next year, which was always
going to be our aim. Normally it
would be too much in one step
but this club is one of the few
which could do it in one step if
everything is right."
But with Keegan intent on
making the additions that will
make Newcastle a challenger for
a European place next season, he
also realises there are numerous
other clubs in exactly the same
position - including rivals Sunderland.
"If you look at the bottom half
of the table there will be us, Tottenham,
possibly Sunderland, if
they put the investment in," said
Keegan. "Possibly Middlesbrough
will be in there as well, if
they put some investment in.
"I'd say Spurs definitely, Aston
Villa and Everton will all be in
there again."
9:09am Saturday 10th May 2008
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