Kinnear turns Tyne air blue but was the rant justified?

October 6, 2008

Not since Biffa Bacon hit the pages of Viz have so many swear words come out of Newcastle as interim manager Jo Kinnear made an immediate impact in his first week in charge.*

The 61-year-old Kinnear has been out of the game for four years and it was almost as if he had spent the entire time building up to bursting point with his dislike of the Press.

If the transcripts which have appeared on English newspaper websites are accurate, Kinnear used “36 f-words and four c-words” in a news conference rant. Here’s a flavour:

Addressing a journalist who suggested that he should not have given the club’s under-performing players the day off on his first day in charge, Kinnear began thus: “Absolutely ——- out of order… You can —- off and go to another ground . It is none of your ——- business. What the — are you going to do? You ain’t got the balls to be a ——- manager. ——- day off. Do I want your opinion? Do I have to listen to you?

“What are you? My personal secretary? —- off.”

The expletives go on for some time before Newcastle’s press officer makes a desperate attempt to make the whole conversation “off the record”, asking the reporters to erase their recordings.

He then asks everyone to “get on to football” and after a long pause, someone pipes up with, “Any knocks?”

Many a manager reading the interview will sympathise with Kinnear, who was also unhappy with the headline “Morecombe and Wise” in reference to his new partnership with director of football Dennis Wise, and there is support for him here at Blog on the Tyne.

Still, though, for a club in chaos on and off the pitch, it was hardly the ideal way to calm things down.

What did you make of it?

* For those unfamiliar with Viz, click here for an explanation of its unique charms.

PHOTO: Joe Kinnear looks on before Newcastle United’s match against Blackburn at St James’ Park in Newcastle September 27, 2008. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

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