Former Newcastle United defender David Edgar has admitted few players knew who Joe Kinnear was upon his Tyneside arrival. In September 2008, the Magpies were in turmoil once Kevin Keegan walked out for a second time.
A dispute with Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise over two unknown signings Xisco and Nacho Gonzalez - as well as James Milner’s sale to Liverpool - resulted in an explosive exit just nine months after his sensational return.
Tasked with replacing Keegan was fiery former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear, who had been out of the game for four years. Critics instantly questioned the appointment - an assertion that was proven right as Newcastle were ultimately relegated from the Premier League.
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Fans and the media were stunned by his arrival, with Kinnear’s X-rated rant in his first Newcastle press conference shaming the club. Ex-Toon academy product Edgar has revealed how the dressing reacted to his appointment. Shay Given, in particular, had his fellow teammates in stitches with his witty response.
“That was a strange one (Kinnear as manager),” Edgar told the Under the Cosh podcast. “We were all sitting in the office and Chris Hughton was the interim at the time. He said ‘lads, we’ve got your new manager here.’
“I came from Canada. I had a decent background of football knowledge, but I did not know who Joe Kinnear was. I had never heard of him. Chris Hughton said ‘the new manager is Joe Kinnear’ and all I heard at the back was Shay Given go ‘you’re f****** joking here?’
“It was the funniest thing ever. I’m going to Andy Carroll ‘who is Joe Kinnear?’ The timing was priceless. He (Kinnear) has health problems. That was a strange one.”
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