Magpies appoint Kinnear as stop-gap boss
Friday, 26 Sep 2008 22:36
Joe Kinnear named interim Newcastle Utd boss until November
Newcastle United have appointed former Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear as their interim manager until the end of October.
The 61-year-old will take temporary charge of first-team affairs at St James' Park for the next six weeks, with current caretaker boss Chris Hughton continuing as his assistant.
Kinnear has been out of football management since being sacked as Nottingham Forest boss in 2004.
He is best known in managerial terms for his seven-year stint in charge of the Dons during the 1990s, who he led to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1997.
After a series of unlikely top-half finishes, Kinnear was forced to resign from the club due to ill health during the 1998/99 season - the same campaign which saw Wimbledon relegated from the top flight.
"I am very excited about the challenge in front of me at Newcastle United," Kinnear said.
"Results have not been great of late, but there is a lot of quality in the squad and I am very confident the players are capable of climbing the league table.
"Newcastle United is a great club. When I was in charge of Wimbledon I always remember the passion of the fans up there and how great a stadium St James' Park is.
"It is a big challenge but one I am really looking forward to."