Mike Ashley is fuming at the Magpies staff from 2012/13.
Newcastle United have been making the headlines this week with their off-field activities, after owner Mike Ashley installed former manager Joe Kinnear as the new director of football, forcing managing director Derek Llambias to quit.
Kinnear is an unpopular figure on Tyneside after an unsuccessful spell as manager in 2008 and is now even more so after giving an interview full of gaffes on talkSPORT – which included pronouncing several players’ names wrong.
Manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr now have to report to Kinnear on all matters concerning transfers and a move for highly rated Brazilian defender Douglas has already been quashed by the new director.
Carr is the man revered for bringing stars such as Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse to the club for relatively low fees, but with Kinnear having been appointed the scout is also considering leaving St James’ Park.
Yet despite the Magpies’ staff leading Newcastle to fifth in 2011/12, ahead of Champions League winners Chelsea, Ashley wants an overhaul at the club after a disappointing campaign in 2012/13, reports the Independent.
For Toon fans disillusioned by the return of Kinnear to the club they could be in for quite a torrid time in the north east, as the owner plans a backlash for last season’s failings.
However, with both Pardew and Carr on lengthy contracts after Ashley believed they were the golden boys just 12 months ago, sacking them would be financial suicide.
Whatever happens in the coming weeks it is likely Newcastle United Football Club will be unrecognisable to the one that started last season, both on and off the pitch.
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