Football Dispatch

Breaking News
16 January 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Geordies rejoice: Keegan has returned
Now there are no more excuses. Kevin Keegan, one of the few bulletproof individuals to have ever been associated with Newcastle United, has returned to manage the club. And Mike Ashley, the owner who has gone so far as to sit with the riff-raff in stands – such is his desire to be adored by the supporters, has earned himself a honeymoon with the fans.

Keegan’s hiring came from nowhere. Or, at least, almost nowhere. Sure, the two-time winner of the Ballon d’Or had been linked with the Newcastle vacancy out of sheer wistfulness; but nobody actually expected the 56-year-old to return to his old job.

Instead, Ashley and chairman Chris Mort had shortlisted a group of candidates which included Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes, Gerrard Houllier, and Didier Deschamps. They, like almost everyone else, probably never thought that Keegan had any desire to be considered. And, of course, the fans clamored for Alan Shearer. Full credit to Ashley and Mort, then, for not caving to the selfish demands of the supporters.

In Keegan, they have hired a man with iconic status at the club. His reputation alone should see him in the job for at least two or three seasons. And in that span, the owner and board of directors will expect a degree of stability to finally settle over St. James’ Park. It hasn’t existed since Keegan departed in 1997; and there’s no guarantee that it will return this time around.

But at least the fans will have been silenced. No more will their frustrations find the backside of an unfortunate coach. Of course, these are the same people who shamefully chased Sir Bobby Robson from the post in 2004. Perhaps the jury is still out.