What's Happening to Newcastle FC

What is going on with the Magpies... they've got a really great coach... now he is gone. sigh!

Keegan and Newcastle part company
Manager Kevin Keegan has left Newcastle United after only eight months in charge, BBC Radio 5 Live understands.

The 57-year-old held talks with the club's board on Tuesday morning amid reports he was unhappy with a lack of control over transfer activity.

Newcastle's only business on transfer deadline day was a £5.7m swoop for Spanish striker Xisco and the loan signing of midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez.

The ex-England manager rejoined the club in January for a second spell.

Angry supporters gathered at St James' Park to protest at the reports of Keegan's impending departure.

The manager's relationship with owner Mike Ashley was reported to have soured in May this year, after Keegan claimed that Newcastle were unlikely to break into the top four during his time in charge.

One appointment two weeks into Keegan's tenure that caused controversy was Dennis Wise, taken on board to oversee transfer activity.
BBC Radio 5 Live's Juliette Ferrington reported that the sale of players and the failure to replace them had brought the meeting to a head.

The transfer window saw the arrival of six players at Newcastle, with five players leaving the club.

James Milner was one of those who left last week, transferred to Aston Villa for a fee of £12m, with Keegan admitting it had been difficult to see the 22-year-old leave.

Keegan had also supported Joey Barton, after the controversial midfielder spent 74 days in jail for an assault conviction.

Barton will also be attending a personal hearing on Friday after admitting a Football Association violent conduct charge.

Newcastle are 11th in the Premier League having picked up just four points from their opening three games.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7593683.stm

Published: 2008/09/02 14:41:35 GMT