£2m for Keegan over 'YouTube signing'
Kevin Keegan awarded £2 million in damages over bitter exit from Newcastle United
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Friday, 02, Oct 2009 05:00
By Matthew Champion.
Kevin Keegan has been awarded £2 million in damages over his bitter exit from Newcastle United last year.
The Magpies legend resigned eight months into his second spell at St James' Park in early September 2008 after claiming he was being denied the final say on transfer policy.
An independent arbitration panel today awarded Keegan £2 million compensation plus interest for constructive dismissal.
"We declare that Kevin Keegan was constructively dismissed by Newcastle United Football Club Ltd for which Newcastle United Football Club Ltd must pay to Kevin Keegan damages in the sum of £2 million plus interest to be assessed if not agreed," a statement said.
Click here to read the decision in full
Keegan, 58, had been claiming £8.6 million in lost salary and damages, as well as £16.5 million in "stigma damages" he would lose out on for not being able to find work with a top flight club.
The row revolved around the signing of Uruguayan Ignacio Gonzalez on loan from Deportivo La Coruna on transfer deadline day at the end of August.
Keegan said he was telephoned by executive director Dennis Wise, appointed by owner Mike Ashley after Keegan got the manager's job, the day before to recommend the club sign the midfielder.
Upon not being able to find any details about the player online, Wise told Keegan to look him up on YouTube, but the poor quality clips and basic details about his career were not enough to convince the manager to back the signing.
However, the club went ahead with the deal, leading Keegan to resign five days later.
Lawyers for Keegan presented interviews given by Wise and chairman Chris Mort in the aftermath of the former's appointment in which both said the manager had the "final say" on transfer issues.
The club's lawyers claimed in their defence that the interviews were "nothing more than an exercise in public relations".
The tribunal panel said this reasoning was unsatisfactory and justified Keegan's decision to leave the club.
A statement published on Newcastle's website said: "The Premier League tribunal panel considering the matter between Newcastle United and Kevin Keegan has today returned its decision.
"The club will be making no comment on this matter."
After Keegan's exit last September, Newcastle's season went from bad to worse, culminating in their relegation from the Premier League.
They currently top the Championship with 23 points from ten games.