Barnes says Keegan right to quit

The former Newcastle United midfielder John Barnes believes Kevin Keegan was right to leave if transfers had been carried out without his consent.

After talks last week aimed at persuading Keegan to stay, he resigned for the second time from St James' Park, claiming, "clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want".

Keegan had become disillusioned with a structure which took player recruitment and sales out of his hands and placed them in those of executive director (football), Dennis Wise.

Alan Curbishley left West Ham citing similar reasons, and Barnes, who had a brief spell in charge of Celtic, believes managers should have the final say when it comes to the make-up of their squad.

"For me, I wouldn't like to be a manager under those circumstances as when things go wrong it's the manager who usually suffers by losing their job," Barnes said. "If this system is to work then the role has to be defined with clarity. It would seem that both Keegan and Curbishley feel they were misled in the roles their directors of football were playing.

"This system can work if the man in that role acts as a go-between for both manager and board such as Avram Grant at Chelsea, but as soon as the director of football begins meddling in the comings and goings of the playing staff at the club, then no manager would be happy with that unwelcome input.

"Managers identify players that fit into their tactics and playing philosophy so ultimately signings have to be their choice."