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Newcastle United’s new director of football Joe Kinnear has landed himself in hot water following a bizarre rant on TalkSport radio where he claimed he was “more intelligent” than fans of the Toon Army.
The Dubliner has signed a three-year contract with the north east club which hierarchy at the club had strangely refused to confirm over the last few days.
It is now known that the 66 year-old will take charge of all football related matters at the club with manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr working under him.
When asked why Newcastle would not confirm Kinnear’s appointment, the man who won 26 caps for the Republic of Ireland said: “Because I only signed the contract last night. So that was someone speaking to Mike but it’s been on-going for the last three weeks. Derek Llambias was the director of football – Derek has resigned now.”
When asked if he was “upset” by the fact that many Newcastle fans are unhappy with the appointment, Kinnear replied: “Unfortunately for them (Newcastle fans) I’ve never been sacked in my life. So you know – look at my record – they keep saying to me – what did I do? Where have these people been – have they been on another planet? I have played in five cup finals – I have won the lot. I had over 400 games for Tottenham Hotspur – been manager of the year three times – I have travelled all over the world as a manager. Now this job come up –which I thought was a fairly responsible job – but already they are jumping on the bandwagon “oh watch out Pardo – watch out ” – but that’s the snidey press. That’s the people up there or the people round that area that I have upset and they have a grudge so I expect it. It’s water off a duck’s arse.”
Kinnear then stated that Alan Pardew had given him the “green light” to rejoin Newcastle – a club Kinnear managed during the 2008-’09 season: “Before I had a meeting with Mike [Ashley] , Derek [Llambias] said he had informed Alan [Pardew], and Alan said, ‘Great news – I’m delighted with that. At last I’ve got somebody who’s a football guy’.”
From there the interview veered somewhat off course with Kinnear bizarrely asserting the opinion that he was “more intelligent” than fans of the club: “I’m more intelligent than the fans. I can speak to Wenger and Fergie when I want.”
Fans have voiced their displeasure in the immediate aftermath of Kinnear’s controversial appointment and rant, with one fanzine editor saying that the appointment has made his club a “laughing stock.”
Kinnear’s first time on Tyneside was overshadowed by a foul-mouthed rant at journalists, accusing them of having an agenda against him and, while he returned to his grudge against the media, this week’s rant was more focused on the fans.
Here is the interview in full:
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