Toon army vent fury over Keegan's departure

Newcastle United fans continued today to vent their fury at club owner Mike Ashley and executive director Dennis Wise for the departure of hero Kevin Keegan.

Staunch Toon Army fans were also threatening to boycott the club's next home game on September 13 against Hull City following 'King Kev's' departure.

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John Monaghan, 34, a concrete finisher of Heaton, Newcastle, said: "This is the final straw. I'm boycotting the Hull match and so will my mates.

"It's time we took a stand. The money men are destroying our football clubs. Newcastle United won't get a penny more of my money while Ashley and Wise are in charge."

Craig Cowan, 28, from Blakelaw in Newcastle, said: "I'm gutted. Hopefully everyone will boycott the Hull game and get Ashley and Dennis Wise on their way."

Newspaper reports also today suggested that Newcastle United could pursue their former manager for £2 million in compensation.

It is understood that Keegan had a clause in his contract stipulating that such a sum would be payable to whichever party terminated the contract.

Meanwhile, bookmakers have made Tottenham Hotspur first team coach Gus Poyet - a former assistant to Wise - favourite to be Newcastle's new manager.

Supporters continued to gather outside St James' Park to protest at the shock departure of Keegan, dubbed 'The Messiah'.

Michael Brown, 20, from North Shields said: "We need Kevin Keegan back, simple as.

"Ashley and Wise should both go, as they are as bad as each other. Ashley should sell the club, he's a plastic supporter. He's got a Spurs shirt on underneath that Newcastle top.

"Kev was doing as good a job as any other manager could, why did they not give him what he asked for?

"If you cannot get the players you want you can't do the job you want. He can only coach them the same as any other manager can; it is not the way you coach the team, it's the players you sign."

Exiled fan Andy Buckley, 33, a married father-of-two from Manchester, said: "Just when Man City were beginning to look like the mugs of the Premiership they get a proper billionaire owner - and meanwhile we revert to being a laughing stock.

"I don't blame Keegan for going. He's clearly had no say in the transfers and if Wise gets the gig I might start supporting Blyth, or even Gateshead.

"We are a farcical club, with a farcical chairman. The Mackems must be loving this. I might not insist on my son supporting Newcastle, it seems a rather cruel and unusual punishment."

Another supporter Henry Gallagher, a civil servant, said: "I have been a season ticket holder for years. You don't choose to support the Toon. The club chooses you.

"This week has been an embarrassment from the start. I don't blame Keegan - he was apparently made promises that were not kept.

"With Wise picking the squad Keegan was effectively picking another man's team."

Married father-of-one Mr Gallagher, from the Walkergate area of Newcastle, said the club needed stability "and the important thing is that the fans need to understand that".

He said: "We have not won anything for 40 years - so another two or three years is a small price to pay.

"However the fans want to win now. No manager ever has the chance to build.

"Newcastle United fans are like England fans. Neither team has won anything since the 1960s.

"Each set of fans believes they have a right to win. Every new competition, the fans believe that this is 'the one', only to be disappointed."

Meanwhile Poyet was emerging as the likeliest successor.

The assistant boss at Spurs was 9/4 favourite with William Hill.

The firm said Dennis Wise was second favourite at 3/1 to be the next permanent Magpies boss, despite fans voicing their anger at the football club's executive director.

The bookies also offered 7/2 that billionaire owner Mike Ashley will quit the club before the end of the season.

Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "Punters who backed Keegan to go before the end of the year, which we had offered at 4/1, are celebrating, but we wouldn't expect much in the way of celebration from fans should Dennis Wise be given the job."