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Kevin Keegan set to launch £9m claim against Newcastle
14.10.08
Kevin Keegan is suing Newcastle United for £9million in damages after claiming unfair
dismissal following his departure as manager last month.
The 57-year-old's second stint in charge on Tyneside ended in acrimonious circumstances after a bust-up with owner Mike Ashley.
Standard Sport understands Keegan has begun legal proceedings against the club demanding full payment of his three-and-a-half-year contract.
It is believed Keegan claims he signed a deal to return to Newcastle on the condition that he was given total control of all first-team affairs.
But the former England boss believes Dennis Wise's role as director of football infringed upon the terms of that agreement and made his position untenable.
The transfer of striker Xisco from Deportivo on deadline day is thought to have particularly riled Keegan, who had minimal knowledge a deal would be struck.
It is unclear whether Newcastle will launch a counter claim for breach of contract, as the club declined to comment.
This latest legal wrangle marks the further deterioration of Ashley's relationship with the man who took the club from bottom of the old Second Division to Premier League runners-up and Champions League participants in his first spell in charge between 1992-97.
The retail entrepreneur has become a hate figure in the north east following Keegan's departure, although the club issued a statement denying Keegan had been sacked.
Ashley subsequently held talks with Keegan in a bid to resolve the dispute but no solution was reached and Joe Kinnear has since been appointed interim manager while the club look for new owners.
Dubai-based investors baulked at Ashley's initial asking price, which was rumoured to be more than three times the £134m he paid for the club in 2007. He has since dropped it to around £300m.
Chief executive of the League Managers Association Richard Bevan has hinted Keegan would be interested in a return.
But Bevan said: "The structure has to be right."
Reader views (6)
Keegan is taking an absolute liberty
he was paid hansomely for not very much and walked out yet again.
just where does he figure he is owed 9million!!
joker!
great player though
- Arsenalbob, studham
WELL DONE KEV he has been treated very bad by ashley and his board of idiots,the sooner this is sorted the better,
so we can have kev back where he belongs,NEWCASTLE.
- Marlene Phillips, gloucestershire
kevin keegan has every right to sue newcastle(mike ashley)for £9m.It was ashley himself who employed keegan with a three and a half year contract,then made the post untenable with the meddling of wise and co.(correct me if im wrong,but this is called constructive dismisal.As for the deluded numpties,yes we are deluded and confused,because we cant understand why a club who have 52,000 for home games find themselves in the mess that we seem to spirall into season after season.
- Gary, washington tyne&wear england
There is emotion and there is the law. If Newcastle's action makes Keegan feel he has been constructively dismissed who are we to object. Common Keegan you have rights like any ordinary citizen regardless of your past
- Alex Lisinge, Putney London
What possible grounds has keegan got for suing Newcastle? Lord knows I have no sympathy for the club, it's owners or the ridiculous deluded numpty's of the Toon army, but £9 million??????
Keegan has, allegedly, a dubious character, he has never proved himself as a coach, and walked out of every job he has had in a hissy fit, usually because he was losing!
It was a stupid decision of gigantic proportions to install him as the "Messiah", now I think he probably believes he is. It would take the real one to save this large but very average club from disaster. it lost it's soul a long time ago.
- Kerry, Purley
You cannot be serious KK!
The country is in recession and football is down the tubes because of the terminal greed of people like you.
You resigned. You are the weakest link. Goodbye.
- Sportinguist, Almancil, Portugal
