Kevin Keegan resigns as Newcastle manager
Thursday, 04 Sep 2008 19:50
Kevin Keegan resigns as Newcastle manager
Kevin Keegan has resigned as Newcastle manager, it has been confirmed.
The announcement follows days of speculation that Keegan had walked away from St James' Park upset at the club's recent transfer activity.
Keegan and the club's owner Mike Ashley are reported to have clashed over Keegan's influence at the club plus his decision to keep faith in midfielder Joey Barton following his release from prison.
In a statement released through the League Managers Association (LMA), Keegan said: "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.
"It remains my fervent wish to see
Newcastle United do well in the future and I feel incredibly sorry for the players, staff and most importantly the supporters. I have been left with no choice other than to leave."
Keegan had been engaged in crisis talks with the board of directors of Newcastle for the last 48 hours and executive director of football Dennis Wise is widely expected to fill the managerial role while a full-time replacement is found.
LMA chief executive, Richard Bevan, added this evening: "The LMA has been supporting Kevin during a very difficult period. We share his great disappointment and frustration that the situation could not be resolved."
Keegan's departure is the second managerial casualty of the season, following Alan Curbishley's decision to leave West Ham yesterday.