In Defence of Joe Kinnear

After Terry Venables and apparently 16 other managers said “thanks, but no thanks” to Mike Ashley, one Joe Kinnear has been named as the caretaker manager in charge of the mess at Newcastle United.

Younger readers might be asking: Joe who? Good question kids. Well, Kinnear performed the borderline miraculous task of keeping Wimbledon F.C. in the Premier League from 1992 to 1999. With no home ground and a tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny transfer budget, Kinnear led Wimbledon to more than one top 10 Premier League finish.

People are going to laugh at this decision. And I can see why. Kinnear is very much a low profile appointment.

But it’s worth remembering that this is an interim appointment. You’re not going to get a big name manager agree to take over at Newcastle right now on a short term basis. Who would want that job? I know I wouldn’t.

There will also be complaints about this being a Dennis Wise influenced appointment, since both Wise and Kinnear are Wimbledon legends. But check the dates. Wise left Wimbledon in 1990, two years before Kinnear took over.

So if Kinnear can work his Wimbledon magic, he’ll get Newcastle organized and instill some semblance of team spirit. Which might be exactly what they need in the short term. Whatever happens, he can’t do any worse then poor Chris Hughton.

And there could be good news around the corner for Newcastle fans underwhelmed by Kinnear’s appointment:

“I understand investors are about to buy the club, Mike Ashley told me openly. I will be here for six to eight games,” Kinnear told the BBC.

“I am aware that the new owners have Kevin Keegan and possibly Alan Shearer parked around the corner.”

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Category: English Premier League

Tags: Alan Shearer, Dennis Wise, English Premier League, Joe Kinnear, Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley, Newcastle United, Wimbledon

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