NJS

The Times article has turned up word for word in the NOTW - blanket smear campaign.

They've got the 12m by taking off Milner's fee to make it look like it was bang on budget until an "unexpected" sale.

According to Skunkers, the times article appeared 11 minutes before the club statement.

Times Read this and weep some more.

As I've said on N-O - this twat is the one responsible for the story that Keegan's list had Ronaldinho and Henry on it - he's obviously to Wise what the cunt Custis is to Allardyce.

Part of me hopes Wise talkes it on just so we can bring all the shit to a head. In reality if it had been deliberate to bring Keegan in in January to stave off relegation, bring a smile back to the place, and yes to endear the owner to the fans with the intention of him leaving with our thanks to be replaced by Deschamps I would have been more than happy. Unfortunately now the job is tainted in my view so whoever takes it is on a hiding to nothing.

Fair enough if I'm being honest - I'd be the same if it was them. It still won't match that boards finest moment - the night we lost to Marseille - the relief from the thought of us coming close to succeeding was explosively orgasmic.

I think theres an element and that's what makes the future worse. People are pissed off with the club and football already and that was with Keegan in charge. Given theres no attractive home games until xmas I think we're in for some shit crowds.

In the cold light of day I'm a bit disappointed with Kevin - I think he could have stuck it out and used the next 4 months to try and negotiaite a new transfer system before it actually matters. As it stands the season is a complete write-off. That doesn't mean that sifting through all the rumours I don't think he was correct in taking a stand but leaving us this fucked, I think he has to take some responsibility.

Would anyone get tired of punching that face?

Not if you're Denis Wise.

Same here, I've just got in. Fuck me, this shit always happens when I'm unable to get near any comms - like Jimbo I'm totally at a loss of how to feel, anger's high up on the list though, Ashley should fucking swing for this. Can anyone give me a quick run down of what I've missed? I've read Kev's leaving statement, is there any other news to it yet? The club's statement suggests they'd offered changes and had asked him to voice any outstanding concerns but he resigned instead - most people think its shite.

I think his intention was to kick start us up a few places, maybe try for a cup, but mainly hand over something decent to his successor - nowt wrong with that at his age.

I get the impression that before Milner left, there was an idea that the squad was "good enough" - something I don't agree on though Keegan was still probably expecting a left back. Milner's sale prompted an increase in demand for a midfielder and I'd guess if Martins and Viduka wern't injured they wouldn't have gone after a striker. Overall I think its the infamous "everyone has a price" for sales that has been the straw - how much shit would we have been in if Owen and Barton had left (numbers wise at least). Having said that I know Kev's statement suggests its purchases that were the stumbling block so we may have to wait to find out who he didn't want.

Being harsh they show a bit of promise but aren't good enough on their own to move us up the table. Then again even with the system working, they've been hamstrung by a shit budget which is down to Ashley. ST money? TV money?

I know its been said but they really didn't know what they were doing when they forced his hand given the backlash. They even had a chance to fix it but couldn't do that. The Hull match will be horrible but having said that the more horrible it is, the more chance that he will get the message that he is completely unwanted. Of course none of them will be there and I think Ashley will conveniently have business abroad. Another sad thing is he could appoint a decent manager who would have been a "better" choice in January given the intent but whichever mug takes it will be fucked from day one. Expect him to offer Shearer a kings ransom to take charge - I hope Shearer for once isn't a twat and turns him down. As others have said maybe the Indian is a good way out - again given the backlash Ashley might sell at a loss.

RE: The way out: Would it be too anarchic a suggestion to keep the same structure but let Keegan appoint or approve the personnel (after jettisoning the current lot).

My thoughts exactly. Could be but what is unarguable is that Mort was the one who implemented it. And possibly the man who made it work. It does appear that way, it was him who kept the pieces in order by the looks of things. Then again, he did get out before the transfer window opened so it was just first team matters at issue when him and Keegan were together at the club. That's the thing though - it was obviously decided not to bother in Jamuary so this summer was its first use/operation/test. A lad I work with was saying Keegan shouldn't have accepted the structure but being told when Wise joined how it was going to work and how it turned out is two different things.

He's not dead Some great memories there - call me bitter but that shot at Anfield still makes me want to kill all scousers.

I agree but feel a joint approach would work - I don't mind in principle Jiminez or whoever "handing over" good players to Keegan but think it should work the other way around where he says "Please can you go and get me Stephen Warnock" and that request should be taken seriously. I also think this is more about the attempted sales than the failed purchases. I would also add that I think Guthrie was down to Keegan - possibly in the way I described.

As others have said ite 3 years. You also assume that Ashle's committment is as stated and not as "loose" as the for sale stories suggest. I also don't think theres evidence that Keegan's "instant" players would necessarily be old - see the alleged interest in Warnock, Lennon and Schweinsteiger. I'd also argue that one good UEFA/CL run would get more back than say a doubling of his money on Xisco as an example.

"Mutual consent" with half the compen. Of course you can have serious arguments at work but I honestly don't see a way back from this. I do hope so though.

If he stays there are two possibilities for me: 1. Everybody kisses and makes up and says it was all just "Robust discussion" and nothing has changed in reality 2. Keegan tells the truth about what happened, there is an honest semi-public debate about it, changes may be made and everybody moves forward. Scenario 1 just postpones the inevitable re-occurence in my opinion - it may plaster over the cracks and allow us to stumble forward to January or May but the cliub will be wounded. I obviously prefer 2. In reality however as I said last night I think he's gone and the posturing on both sides is about the compen.

If we've reached the stage where the only reasons statements are released is with the purpose of arguing over compen then we're fucked.

Canny statement - excuse me for thinking it's spin and he'll walk.