adminNewcastle United have confirmed that Joe Kinnear has returned to the club as director of football, and will be ‘the senior executive in charge of all football-related matters’. The 66-year-old has spent the last two days confirming he is back at the club, 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.
In the official statement, the Magpies confirmed that Kinnear will be given a three-year contract, and will report to the board of directors, while current manager Alan Pardew “will report into Joe.”
Managing director Derek Llambias said: “The board are pleased to welcome Joe back to the club. Joe has many years of experience working within the game, and this experience will be of great benefit to the club in achieving our objectives over the coming seasons.”
The news is believed to directly threaten Pardew’s future at the club, something Kinnear denied in the media over the last two days.
Kinnear attracted criticism for a radio appearance last night, before the role had been formally confirmed, in which he mispronounced the names of several Newcastle United players, and claimed he was more intelligent than most of the club’s fans. — Eurosport.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo