Ashley Is Joking Here Again, Isn't He?

Mike Ashley has gone and done it again.

He's employed Joe Kinnear. This time the Newcastle United owner has brought in Kinnear as a 'director of football'. The last time Ashley employed him was in the 2008/09 season which saw the Magpies relegated from the Premier League.

Granted, Kinnear was not managing the team at the time they went down. Still, his involvement in team matters was what signalled the decline.

Ironically, Kinnear is going to be in charge of who comes in and out of the club. A similar undermining move led to Kevin Keegan quitting his job as Newcastle manager in early 2008.

I've never been keen on Alan Pardew as Newcastle boss. If I was still as passionate about the club as I once was, I'd be concerned that the next step is for the manager to either quit or be pushed out.

And we know who'll end up taking over the vacancy.