Friday 5th September 2008
Keegan may have to pay US$3.5m
Kevin Keegan may have to compensate Newcastle United US$3.57 million after resigning from the Magpies for the second time.
According to reports, there was a clause in Keegan's contract that stipulated whichever party terminated the deal before the end of the three-and-a-half year term would have to pay the other that sum.
The Guardian claims that Keegan will contest that payment, claiming constructive dismissal.
Keegan finally resigned on Thursday night after three days of talks and uncertainty, with many believing owner Mike Ashley chose executive director (football) Dennis Wise over Keegan.
Keegan's resignation came after major disagreements about the club's transfer policy. After the defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, he promised three or four new signings before the end of the transfer window.
However, only two - the loan of Ignacio Gonzalez and the permanent signing of striker Xisco - emerged, leading to Keegan quitting for the second time.
He said: "I have 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."
However, the club presented a rather different view in their statement, released roughly an hour after Keegan handed in his resignation.
'Over the last few days the Club has devoted itself to the discussions it has held with Keving and asd a result of those discussions had put together a set of practical suggestions for how to move forward.
'Today the Club made it clear to Kevin that if he had any outstanding concerns on its proposals, he should raise them with the Club.
'The Club regrets that Kevin has, instead of taking up that offer, chose to resign.'
Indeed The Times claims that the Newcastle board have poured scorn on Keegan's managerial ability, in particular his knowledge of the transfer market. The paper claims he presented the board with an unrealistic wish-list of players that included Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard.
Attention now turns to Keegan's successor. Gus Poyet, the Tottenham assistant who worked with Wise at Leeds, is the bookies favourite, with Wise himself not far behind. Alan Shearer's name will inevitably be mentioned, but whether Ashley will make another 'emotional' choice after Keegan.
Other names mentioned include Didier Deschamps, David Moyes, Gianfranco Zola and a troupe of Spaniards familiar with vice president (player recruitment) Tony Jimenez and the club's continental management structure, including Deportivo's Miguel Angel Lotina, Real Sociedad's Juanma Lillo and Real Zaragoza's Marcelino Garcia Toral.
