Why have Newcastle United appointed Joe Kinnear?

Newcastle have appointed Joe Kinnear as director of football on a three-year contract

Newcastle United have appointed former-boss Joe Kinnear as director of football. Kinnear has signed a three-year contract at St James Park.

The ex-Wimbledon boss has revealed that he will be in charge of transfers. I have to confess I just do not understand this move.

Struggle

Newcastle struggled badly last season and found themselves involved in the Premier League relegation battle.

The Magpies performance last season came as a real surprise after the Geordies finished fifth the previous season.

Injuries played a big part in last season’s underachievement. Newcastle’s lack of strength in-depth cost them and made life very uncomfortable for boss Alan Pardew.

Connection

Joe Kinnear is believed to be close to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. His appointment seems a rather strange one at this point and it does not make much sense. Kinnear did not seem that popular as Newcastle boss, so why bring him back as director of football.

Director of football

The role director of football is very popular at foreign clubs, but the role has not really taken off in England. Club managers tend to be in charge of the overall club, whereas in foreign clubs directors of football have a big say in transfer policy.

Transfers

Asked about who will have final say on transfers Kinnear told Sky Sports: “It will be me.

“If between the three of us (Kinnear, Pardew and head scout Graham Carr) we sit down and iron it out and them two decide that he’s not that good, then my ears will be wide open. It’s not a case of lump it or like it”

Undermined

Although some may see Kinnear’s appointment as director of football as assistance for Pardew, I believe it rather undermines the Magpies boss. Pardew as a Premier League boss should be able to recruit his own players.

Obviously with the help of a chief scout, in this case Graham Carr (father of comedian Alan). Carr has done a tremendous job in recent years bringing in the likes of Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse.

Last season’s additions did not quite work out as well as the aforementioned three. Out of the January signings, Moussa Sissoko was probably the most successful. The jury is still very much out on the likes of Massadio Haidara and Yoan Gouffran.

Surely, between Pardew and Carr there is enough knowledge on players without bringing a third person into the equation in Joe Kinnear? If there is not then Pardew is should not be in charge of a top-flight club. Scouts can only do so much; managers should be able to do the rest.

Why?

Joe Kinnear has been out of the game for a good while now and is considered a football dinosaur. The 66-year-olds appointment came as a surprise and I am sure Newcastle fans will be wondering why he has been appointed.

Kinnear’s appointment is obviously to oversee transfers and spot any players that might have slipped the gaze of Pardew and Carr. Whether he is the right man for the job is very questionable. I am sure there are a host of other people out there in the football that are far more in-tune with the modern game than the former-Dons boss.

Improvement

If Joe Kinnear’s appointment leads to an improvement in Newcastle’s squad then it will be applauded, but I very much doubt it will. Alan Pardew has to make those improvements, as it is his team.

If the Newcastle hierarchy not trust their boss to make those changes then the Magpies need to find a man that can. Unfortunately, the appointment of Joe Kinnear looks like yet another mistake by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

For the sake of Newcastle fans, I really hope I am wrong and it proves to be a masterstroke by Ashley. However, I know that the majority of Toon fans are sceptical about Kinnear’s appointment and are not holding out much hope of his appointment improving things at St James Park.

Is Joe Kinnear needed at Newcastle?