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The man from El-Tel Monte says…”NO!”

Published by DSAdmin on September 26, 2008

In probably the least surprising development of the past few days, former England manager Terry Venables has reportedly turned down the chance to become manager of Newcastle United. The former England manager revealed that he had only been offered the post on a day-to-day basis and that this was a major factor in his decision.
In announcing his decision Venables stated “Newcastle United means too much to too many people to take the job on a short-term basis. It demands total commitment and dedication from a manager who is prepared to throw himself heart and soul into the club.”
“I didn’t want to move up to Tyneside and find myself surplus to requirements before I’d even had the chance to get my teeth into the challenge.”
He concluded “The way the job was offered to me meant that I might be working at St James’ Park for two months, two years – or two weeks. There was far too much uncertainty involved.”
Venables sentiments are probably echoed by almost everybody who has an interest in Newcastle United at the present time. The staggering lack of stability at the club, the uncertainty over it’s long term future and just who the new owners will be and when they will come in. This means that Newcastle have effectively become rudderless in the Premiership. There is no leadership from the top down to the management and there is no realistic chance or inclination on behalf of the owners, given the present situation, to make the radical decisions needed to change this predicament. Certainly the coaching staff and players will do their best in the situation, but that isn’t going to be good enough long term. A home defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup in midweek, only exacerbated the problem and underlined the expedient necessity for the ownership question to be resolved.
Until it is, then the talk of any appointment of any manager of any repute as a “fire-fighter” in this situation, is surely moot. The Nigerian consortium linked with the club are believed to want Kevin Keegan to return to the helm. Let’s just hope that if he does get offered the job, he doesn’t receive an email from them purporting great wealth and wonderful opportunities, so long as he just sends them his bank details. A mysterious “Dubai” group are also believed to be showing an interest although who this is, is open to a degree of speculation, and if they are interested, they may well have their own ideas about who they want for the job. If Ashley can’t sell the club quickly and is forced to stay, would any manager want to come in and take on Keegan’s role, with the fans already dead set against them, being Ashley’s lackey?
Resolution for Newcastle can come in one of two ways. Ashley can either admit the folly of his mistakes, back down, sack those who Keegan argued with, appoint Keegan again and give him £X million to spend in the January transfer window. The Geordie faithful would then need to forgive him, stop issuing the rather pathetic death threats to him and his family, and allow him to get on with the job with their full backing.
And if that happens Hell will freeze over next Tuesday and Sir Alex Ferguson will marry Arsene Wenger at a civil ceremony at Stamford Bridge, with Big Phil Scolari as the best man, cheered by a throng of Liverpool supporters dressed in Armani suits.
The second way seems much more likely and this is reliant on the sale of the club and the speedy appointment of a new manager, and the financial backing for him to make the changes necessary. Not only in bringing new players in, but also keeping their best players, such as Michael Owen whose contract expires next June, at the club. While this scenario seems far more likely to occur, the clock is ticking, and with every day that passes without resolution, Newcastle slip further towards the point at which this season becomes an exercise in futility. Sadly for Newcastle fans, the past ten years have been just that.

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