Curbs and Kev: The Start Of a Growing Trend?

                Managers disappearing in early September is, in itself, not a rarity, particularly with unsuccessful ends to the transfer window.

                Even two in a week could not be considered such a cause for panic and endless comment inch after column inch of the national rags.

However, the manner of the departures, and the circumstances behind them, is made all the more newsworthy as to the eerie similarity between the two of them, spelling something a bit more troubling.

                West Ham’s Alan Curbishley, shortly followed by Kevin ‘King Kev’ Keegan of Newcastle, were the first managerial casualties of the new season, but neither received the fairly regular start-of-the-season-slump boot – they both left on their own terms.

                The reason echoed by either manager was a lack of control over transfers coupled with a lack of cooperation with powers above for their early exits.

                Keegan cited the relationship with executive director Dennis Wise, and his partner in crime Tony Jimenez, and their lack of involvement with him over transfers the problem.

      Both Michael Owen and Joey Barton were offered out on transfer deadline day for moves elsewhere without consulting him beforehand, with Spain Under-21 striker Xisco the only permanent signing to arrive at St. James’ Park on Monday. Not the four players he was hoping for.

                After a demand to become sole man in charge of transfers, coupled with the immediate dismissal of Wise and Jimenez, was rejected by Chairman Chris Mort and owner Mike Ashley, Keegan felt he had no choice.

                Curbishley, who was the bookies favourite for the managerial sack race this season, gave near-identical reasons for storming out of East London in a similar fashion.

                In the final week of the transfer window he lost both Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Roy Keane at Sunderland, and the latter, a transfer which he vehemently disagreed with, was the final straw.

                Chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson said his and technical director Gianluca Nani’s decisions to sell the players was down to a refusal to sign a new contract and a transfer request respectively – which McCartney has denied in London’s Evening Standard – and were shocked at Curbishley’s decision to leave.

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