BREAKING NEWS - KEEGAN OUT

The Koog is dead...Long live the Koog..Well he is not dead...But he's gone..Finally!

Earlier this year Kelvin Koogan* breezed back into football after years of being forgotten and Geordies declared the second coming of the Messiah...He has breezed out just as fast.



That's right Ladies and Gentlemen, Kevin Keegan is no longer at the helm of Newcastle United. Crisis talks this week have ended with The Koogster resigning. Keegan was having issues with the Newcastle board, the main problem appears to be that he was not in charge of the transfer comings and goings. It is said that Keegan was furious that James Milner was sold to Villa last week and that the move was not his doing. Of course, he rushed to say it was and painted a rosy picture of a content Koog in full control.

Keegan has been having talks with the board since Tuesday. Newcastle stated that they had NOT fired the Koogster and wanted him to stay in charge but this afternoon King Kev conceded that he could find no common ground with owner Mike Ashley and his board...

"I've been working desperately hard to find a way forward with the directors, but sadly that has not proved possible...It's my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want." - Kevin Keegan.

What is concerning here is this new found affinity some owners have with the actual acquisitions of players via a third party, a 'sporting director' if you will. Levy at Spurs has Commoli, Chelsea had Grant before he took the hot seat at Stamford Bridge and just yesterday West Ham boss Alan Curbishley quit for having his players sold behind his back. Newcastle adopted the 'sporting director' in the form of Dennis Wise. The former midfield terrier was installed behind the scenes shortly after the Koogster was appointed manager for the second time. This move was a mighty kick in the nuts to Keegan but he smiled and told the world he was looking forward to having his players picked for him..I mean he was looking forward to working with Wise.

Having a 'sporting director' is a very continental trend that just won't work in British football. Earlier this week I wrote of a similar situation at Rangers where Walter Smith discovered his striker had been sold while watching the TV. Jol did not like it at Spurs either...Bye Martin. Jose did not like it at Chelsea..Bye Bye Roman and now Keegan has been victim to the 'sporting director' curse up in the north east. This system is popular at Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Espanyol and a host of foreign clubs but English football is very hands on and traditional. The manager is the top dog. The one who commands respect. He buys the players and he sells them. He disciplines and he above anyone else picks the team on a Saturday.

Keegan was re-installed after new owner Mike Ashley fired Sam Allardyce after a run of terrible results. Koog was immediately hailed as the savior of the 'toon' and welcomed back with open arms. But this summers lack of spending and the influence of Wise and Ashley in the transfer market has taken its toll on the 57 year old. Recently he seemed to be disillusioned with some of the decisions that have been above his pay-scale. Winger James Milner was sold to Villa and players were signed (as recent as Monday ) seemingly without Koogans approval. The Koogster also received flack for sticking with jailed bad boy Joey Barton.

Koogan will be sorely missed in football. I will personally miss those super post match interviews where he looks bemused in the face of defeat before declaring that Newcastle are better than that and will bounce back and show the world how good they are. Of course we all know that never happens Koogans elevated optimism was one only he believed in. I will fondly remember Koogans penchant for a silly quote...

"In some ways cramp is worse than having a broken leg"...
"They are the second best team in the world and there is no higher praise than that"...
"He's using his strength and that's his strength, his strength"...
"Maine road was a great football stadium, but as time moved on it stayed where it is"...
"The Germans only have one player under 22 and he is 23"...
"There will be no siesta's in Madrid tonight"...
"The tide is very much in our court now".. and who could forget "England have the best fans in the world and Scotland's are second to none!"

Before the second coming Keegan seemed happy outside of football even stating that he did not watch any games ... but the temptation to return to Newcastle was too great. After this failed spell however I honestly believe that this is the last time you will see Kelvin Koogan wearing a tracksuit alongside a professional football pitch. So take a good long look, remember the crazy quotes and wave goodbye...King Kev has left the building.


-Bigus

*U.F newbies note: Around these parts we referred to Keegan as Kelvin Koogan...Who knows why!