Graeme Bailey feels Newcastle are continuing to show Premier League rivals how to run a successful club in the modern era.
Monday 1 October 2012 07:49, UK
Graeme Bailey feels Newcastle are continuing to show Premier League rivals how to be successful.
Many have already cast aspersions at Newcastle United's decision to hand Alan Pardew an eight-year contract - strange given how he was recognised last season as the best English manager in the league. But there is more to the new deal than just a lengthening of contract - Newcastle are showing their Premier League rivals how to build a successful club. This is, though, some turnaround - the words success and Newcastle could not have been further from the truth when Mike Ashley took charge in late 2007, let alone a happy fan-base. But now just five years on the terms happy fans, success and Newcastle are very content bedfellows. Of course it has not always been sweetness and light on Tyneside for Ashley - anything but. Upon buying Newcastle, Ashley appointed Chris Mort as chairman, although a year later he was replaced with Derek Llambias and Dennis Wise was appointed as director of sport. After joining Ashley soon dismissed Sam Allardyce, who was appointed by the former regime, and re-appointed club legend Kevin Keegan - but behind the scenes Ashley was already putting in place the somewhat continental plan that the owners and directors took the lead on transfers. This did not sit well with 'King Kev' and he quit - dubbing the hierarchy 'the Cockney Mafia'. The Toon Army, beloved followers of Keegan, followed the same path to the extent that later in 2008 Ashley put the club up for sale due to the supporter back-lash and appointed Joe Kinnear as interim boss until he could sell. Then, in a remarkable twist, and with the Magpies teetering on relegation, the club turned to another legend Alan Shearer to save them. He couldn't and the club went down. Fearing the worst Newcastle fans anticipated the break-up of their squad and again demanded Ashley left. Whilst this was ongoing Ashley instead turned to Chris Hughton as caretaker and most of the playing staff remained. Hughton started well and Ashley appointed him on a permanent basis, whilst also revealing the club was no longer for sale. Back in the Premier League and seemingly winning back the fans - Hughton was fired - again Ashley was condemned and the appointment of Pardew in December 2010 only seemed to exasperate the situation. The following month, Ashley made the decision to sell the club's prized asset, as homegrown striker Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for £35million and no replacement was signed - the fans were convinced that the club was again on a downward spiral. But now two years on, Newcastle are attracting admirers from around the world for how the club is being run - and for good reason.