Fans' fury at Keegan exit

Page last updated at 20:38 GMT, Thursday, 4 September 2008 21:38 UK
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Fans' fury at Keegan exit
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Fans devastated after Keegan's departure

Newcastle United fans have expressed their anger after Kevin Keegan resigned as manager on Thursday.

Keegan quit as boss after three days of talks with the Magpies' board.

Steve Wraith, editor of Newcastle fanzine Players Inc, said Keegan was the "most important man in Newcastle United's history that's still alive".

About 200 Magpies fans gathered outside the club's St James' Park ground, urging owner Mike Ashley and director of football Dennis Wise to step down.

On Tuesday, Newcastle had to issue a statement saying the club had not sacked Keegan as angry fans gathered at the stadium to support him.

That fervent backing of Keegan continued following the 57-year-old's resignation on Thursday night.

A Newcastle statement said the club was "sad and disappointed" that Keegan had resigned and said the club had "devoted itself to the discussions it has held with Kevin" over the last few days.

However, fans chanted the name of the man they affectionately call 'King Kev' to leave no doubt as to where their loyalties lay.

Supporters have even mooted the idea of boycotting Newcastle's next Premier League game at home to Hull on Saturday 13 September to protest against Keegan's exit.

Wraith added that fans have a special affection for Keegan because of his long history with the Magpies.

The former England boss played for the north-east club in the early 1980s and later managed the side from 1992 to 1997, guiding them to the Premier League and to within a whisker of the title, before returning for a second stint in January.

"It's not just the 21 games that he's been in charge this time around," said Wraith.

"He was a great player, he got us out of the old First Division as a player and he did it again as a manger. He nearly won the Premiership for Newcastle United.