LMA boss explains Keegan departure

Last Modified: 05 Sep 2008
Source: ITN

League Manager's Association Chief Executive Richard Bevan has explained why Kevin Keegan felt he had to quit Newcastle United.

Keegan quit his post as manager on Thursday, less than eight months after taking charge of the club for a second time, citing differences with the club's board.

The 57-year-old did not have full control over transfer policy and consequently his relationship with owner Mike Ashley and London-based executive director of football Dennis Wise broke down.

Bevan has called on Newcastle to sort out their internal structure to ensure the next manager at St James' Park does not suffer the same fate as Keegan.

He said: "It has been a sad week for Newcastle and West ham, to lose great managers at this stage.

"I met him in Manchester two or three times. We discussed the issues. He felt he had no alternative but to resign. He was very very upset about it. It was to do with sad for the players, staff and supporters."

He continued: "There were a number of issues. It was about allowing the manager to do the job, who is going to play in his team. It was almost having an orchestra being conducted by three or four conductors."

The departure of Keegan has caused uproar among supporters, who demonstrated in large numbers against Ashley and Wise outside St James' Park last night and this morning.

A boycott of the next home match against Hull on September 13 is being organised.

Newcastle issued a statement confirming Keegan's departure and stated they had tried hard to resolve their differences with him after three days of unrest.

Assistant boss Terry McDermott again took training this morning, as he has done for most of the week, while speculation over Keegan's successor has intensified.

Tottenham assistant boss Gus Poyet, who worked under Wise at Swindon and Leeds, may be a target but the London club are confident he would want to stay at White Hart Lane.

Didier Deschamps and David Moyes have also been linked but the odds on club record goalscorer Alan Shearer taking charge - in what would be a popular appointment - have drifted.

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