Kinnear faces spell in stands as charges mount up

Joe Kinnear seems to be single-handedly attempting to pull down the Football Association's Respect campaign and as such the charges are stacking up for the Newcastle manager who was last night handed his latest, this time for using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official during Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Stoke City.

Kinnear's in-tray already has an improper conduct charge in it, which he has yet to respond to, which relates to him calling Martin Atkinson a "Mickey Mouse referee" following Newcastle's 2-1 defeat at Fulham on 9 November.

The 61-year-old was upset on Saturday by the award of a soft free-kick to Stoke towards the end of the match that led indirectly to their equaliser. Newcastle had led the match 2-0. Kinnear has until 23 December to respond to the charge.

When Kinnear joined Newcastle following Kevin Keegan's departure in September he was already serving a ban which was held over from his last spell as a manager, of Nottingham Forest back in 2005. He may find himself out of the referees' earshot for a few games as he is likely to be handed a touchline ban.

Kinnear is set to meet the club's managing director Derek Llambias today to discuss their transfer targets during the January window. Kinnear said he had been told by owner Mike Ashley that he had about £12m in the kitty and it is thought the manager has two Premier League players in mind.