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.

                These are not the only instances over the summer though, with Manchester City’s new boss Mark Hughes considering leaving his post just weeks into employment after feeling he had little control over transfer policy, with Vedran Corluka’s protracted move to Spurs the major worry.

                Even with Corluka heading to White Hart Lane, Hughes spoke on Friday saying that he expects new owners Abu Dhabi United Group to “respect” him to choose who his team consists of, which he obviously felt wasn’t entirely guaranteed under the ruling of Thaksin Shinawatra.

                As more and more foreign owners takeover Premiership it looks as if a more continental approach to backroom organisation may become common, with managers concentrating solely on coaching and transfers dealt with in the boardroom.

                This has prompted Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp to declare British-style management will be “dead” within the next decade.

                It's no coincedence that all four managers so far showing concern are some of the best, but also some of the most traditional British managers. Had Ronaldo left for Real would we be talking about five?

                Is the influx of money and the promise of the world’s greatest players playing on your doorstep really worth the possible demise of the oldest football culture there is?

                And is the chance – thinking of Newcastle when I say chance – of an international superstar lighting up dreary draws in January worth the constant fear of managers going AWOL or your club becoming a frozen asset because of your owner committing fraud in half of Eastern Europe?

                It seems to me seeing bank balances of billions aren’t what they used to be. “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems” never seemed so apt...