Keegan to leave City
Manchester City are expected to confirm the departure of manager Kevin Keegan later today.
The former England coach spent just over three-and-a-half years in the Blues hotseat, guiding them to the Barclays Premiership in his first season in charge after replacing Joe Royle in 2001.
But Keegan’s future has been the subject of intense speculation recently following his insistence that he would definitely quit when his contract ends in 2006 and reports last night indicate his time at City has now been brought to an end.
It is expected that Stuart Pearce, who earlier this season confirmed his intention to apply for Keegan's job when the former England coach eventually left, will take temporary charge until a permanent replacement is confirmed.
Manchester City’s early exit from the FA Cup means the Blues do not have a Premiership game until the trip to Tottenham on March 19, so whether Pearce is still in charge for the White Hart Lane encounter remains to be seen.
Informed sources indicated earlier this week that current Celtic boss Martin O’Neill was top of a potential hit-list, which also contained current favourite Gordon Strachan. Also in the running are Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie, who impressed at nearby Oldham, and Bolton’s Sam Allardyce, who has long been viewed as a City manager in waiting. Allardyce will need some persuading to leave the Reebok Stadium as the Trotters compete for a European spot on two fronts, however.
Yet despite the unexpected timing, the departure should not really come as any surprise given Keegan’s comments prior to Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Bolton, when he again insisted he would not stay at the club beyond the end of his current contract.
“I would like to see through the full five years but if my chairman comes to me tomorrow, next week or next month and says we don't want you to see the last year out, there will be no problem with me,” said Keegan at that time. “I will shake his hand, wish him all the luck in the world and be gone.”
At that point, there was no indication chairman John Wardle, a long-time Keegan ally, was thinking along those lines.
However, in the period since last Friday, when Keegan made his statement, there appears to have been a major change of heart, with City communications chief Paul Tyrrell refusing to confirm or deny the rumours.
“I can make no official comment on these reports,” was his only response last night.
Although City remain within striking distance of the best-ever Premiership finish - eighth - there are plenty who have long held the belief that Keegan's position was unsustainable given his decision to confirm his departure so far in advance.
Goalkeeper David James was among those who have publicly asked for the manager’s position to be clarified, aware that speculation was mounting that Keegan would not be in the job at the start of next season.
Now, it appears, he has got his wish, but probably not in the manner he thought.
Ultimately, Keegan’s reign will be remembered with mixed feelings by the City faithful.
Although he led them back into the top flight, and has kept them there ever since, Keegan was unable to change the stereotypical image of their unpredictable club.
Among the highlights are 3-1 and 4-1 home victories over Manchester United and a 4-3 FA Cup win at Tottenham last term that will go down as one of the most amazing victories the tournament has ever seen, given City were 3-0 behind and down to 10 men at half-time.
Less than a fortnight ago, the Blues battled back from 2-0 down at Norwich to win and, as Keegan likes to remind everyone, his team remains the only domestic foe to beat Chelsea this season.
Unfortunately, those wins have been punctuated by a succession of disappointing results and a 14 match run without a win that nearly caused a financially catastrophic return to the Football League.
Although Keegan has stabilised his team this season, with no money available and many of his star purchases, including Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and the now-departed Nicolas Anelka failing to deliver and the club’s debt rising to £62m (€88.78m), the future is not looking particularly bright.
Given the nature of his high-profile departures from Newcastle and the England job, it can be assured there will be no mention of Keegan ‘quitting’ when City confirm they are looking for a replacement, so a ‘mutual consent’ statement can be expected.
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