Newcastle the latest gossip

Up the Magpies

 

JK: I'm smarter than Toon Army

Joe Kinnear has risked alienating the Newcastle fans further by claiming to have "more intelligence than them".

The 66-year-old has spent the last two days confirming he is back at the club as director of football, heading back to St James Park after a short but controversial spell as manager in the 2008-09 season.

Newcastle have yet to officially announce the news but their fans have been quick to voice their dissent, with one fanzine editor saying it made his club a laughing stock.

Kinnear's first time on Tyneside was overshadowed by a foul-mouthed rant at journalists, accusing them of having an agenda against him and, while he returned to his grudge against the media on Monday night, he hit out at the fans as well.

When asked by talkSPORT what he would say to unhappy fans, he said: "To all the fans who don't agree with this decision, shall I bring (Derek) Llambias (managing director) back in?. What do you want? What do they want?

"I heard a silly comment of 'what can I attract?' I can open the door to any manager in the world, anyone, that's the difference. I've spent my whole life talking to Alex Ferguson, week in, week out, what would you do?

"I can pick the phone up at any time of the day and speak to Arsene Wenger, any manager in the league. In all the divisions.

"I don't know what angle they've got, if they want to sit down and argue with me... Some are talking out of their backsides, a load of tosh. I'm not accepting it, as simple as that. I have certainly got more intelligence than them, that's a fact."

Kinnear's initial announcement on Sunday caused surprise in the game, giving how his initial spell with Newcastle panned out.

While his time in the dugout was ended by a heart attack, results on the field contributed to the club's relegation from the Premier League.

United's fans have reacted accordingly but Kinnear, who struggled with some Newcastle players' names as well as Llambias on talkSPORT, added: "I'm a bit surprised.

"There's a certain section, exactly the same when I got there. I got over 10,000 letters when I had my heart attack, I felt very proud of that and thought I did an excellent job.

"A lot of Geordies are influenced by the media set, because I stood up to 100 journalists that night. It was the same night we beat Tottenham 2-1, the journalists always had it in, many of the Geordie fans were sucked in."

Kinnear went on to defend his record as a manager, adding: "I look at my record and they keep saying to me 'what did I do?'. Where have these people been, on another planet? I've been manager of the year three times, travelled the world as a manager.

"This job came up, a responsible job. Already they're jumping on the bandwagon, 'watch out Pards' (United manager Alan Pardew) but that's the snidey press around that area that have a grudge. I expect it, it's water off a duck's a***."

Kinnear, who made his name as a manager at Wimbledon as part of the 'Crazy Gang', went on to underline that he does not see his presence as a threat to Pardew.

"This is not about some of the crap about me coming in and taking over. It's nonsense. I read an article saying 'watch over your shoulder Pards'. What a load of crap and they're feeding it to the Geordie fans. I hope they're not daft enough to believe it."

Mark Jensen, the editor of themag.co.uk, is worried for Pardew, though.

He said: "A lot of people are assuming because of the Kinnear thing yesterday that Alan Pardew is now in the position that Chris Hughton was in the summer before he was removed, that they (Newcastle) have decided they don't want him anymore and will look for the first opportunity to get rid of him.

"The one thing you can say about Newcastle, as always, is things are never boring in terms of things to write or talk about.

"Unfortunately, it's a massive negative story and most fans think it makes the club look like a laughing stock again."


Money for Life

Headlines for Newcastle this week

        Latest Newcastle Fixtures               Latest Newcastle Results                 Latest Table

  • JK: I'm smarter than Toon Army


  • Joe Kinnear has risked alienating the Newcastle fans further by claiming to have "more intelligence than them".

  • Kinnear: I have Pardew's blessing


  • Joe Kinnear has insisted Alan Pardew was delighted to hear of his impending arrival as Newcastle's director of football.

  • Transfer news: Joe Kinnear expects Yohan Cabaye to remain at Newcastle


  • Newcastle United's incoming director of football Joe Kinnear is confident that Yohan Cabaye will remain at the club.

  • Kinnear: I'll make Magpies better


  • Joe Kinnear plans to make Newcastle "far better than they are now" after signing a contract to return to the club as director of football.

  • Transfer news: Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye says Monaco 'might interest everyone'


  • Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye has refused to rule out a move to big-spending Monaco, claiming the rebuilding project at the club 'might interest everyone'.

  • Pearce retains Premier desire


  • Reading defender Alex Pearce has admitted he would relish a return to the Premier League, with Newcastle and Liverpool both reportedly keen.

  • Regional Rumours in the Press: Swans track Gomis


  • Swansea are set to bid £10m for Bafetimbi Gomis, Liverpool are closing in on three deals, while Sunderland are linked with six foreign stars.

  • Fans fear worst with Kinnear


  • Joe Kinnear's return to Newcastle could be the beginning of the end for manager Alan Pardew's reign on Tyneside.

  • Rumours in the Press: Tigers to pounce on Bent


  • Steve Bruce is planning to hijack Newcastle's move for striker Darren Bent, while Aston Villa are closing in on Sevilla left-back Antonio Luna.

  • Shock Toon return for Kinnear


  • Joe Kinnear has confirmed his return to Newcastle as the Premier League club's director of football.

    Add Your Comments on the Story