FOOTBALL
TOON TO TURN TO ROBSON
Robson would be keen to replace Kinnear on a temporary basis
Thursday February 12,2009
By Michael Johns
NEWCASTLE are ready to move for Bryan Robson as they aim to follow Chelsea’s lead with a short-term appointment to steer them clear of relegation this season.
With Joe Kinnear facing a heart bypass operation and unlikely to return anytime soon, owner Mike Ashley is considering approaching Robson, the former England captain and ex-boss at North-east neighbours Middlesbrough, to take temporary charge.
Publicly, the club are backing Kinnear’s lieutenants Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood to control team affairs but they are contemplating supplementing the duo with an experienced manager.
Robson has had mixed fortunes as a manager. But he has the benefit of being available – apart from an ambassadorial role at Manchester United – and was a Newcastle fan as a boy growing up in nearby Chester-le-Street. Friends say he would jump at the chance to help out the club.
And he could have a permanent place on the staff as his close friend, Wigan manager Steve Bruce, is a leading target to take over the job in the summer.
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A Newcastle source said: “With Joe Kinnear unwell, [owner] Mike Ashley is looking at alternative arrangements and Robson is the leading contender.”
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Ashley has lost £2.3billion in the credit crunch and his various sports retail companies are now worth ‘only’ £200m.
Magpies managing director Derek Llambias yesterday revealed the grim picture following the global economic downturn.
Llambias said: “Mike was a billionaire and he is still a wealthy man. But if you look at his business, it’s gone down from £2.5bn to £200m.
But we’ve got a business plan in place and we have to be ready for the future. That’s what we’re working towards.
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