INTERIM Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear launched into a torrent of X-rated abuse at reporters ahead of his first game in charge, cursing myriad times in a tirade that was the talk of football ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
The 61-year-old former
Wimbledon manager tore into reporters from the daily papers at the news conference ahead of tomorrow's Premier League game against Everton.
Out of football management for four years, Kinnear believed they had ridiculed him after he showed up at the training ground and none of the first-team players were there. Thursday's news conference became a full-scale argument filled with swear words – 52 of them – according to reporters who were there and who recorded the exchange.
Kinnear accused them of undermining his position, even though he has not yet taken charge of the team in a game.
Kinnear, a former Tottenham and Ireland defender, said he is being ridiculed by the media.
"You are out of order. Absolutely f****** out of order," he told one reporter. "If you do it again, I am telling you, you can f*** off and go to another ground. I will not come and stand for that f****** crap. No f****** way, lies. F***, you're saying I turned up and they (Newcastle's players] f***** off."
"I will stand up and fight for myself in any corner. You're not going to frighten me in any manner," Kinnear told them in one of his few sentences not sprinkled with obscenities.
"Whatever you do, or whatever headlines you run, you're not going to embarrass me. I'm not going to stand for it. I've come up here for a simple chance to prove myself. Get off my back and let me get on with my job. That's all I ask."
As managerial outbursts go, Kinnear's was a prize-winner. Many go unreported because they take place behind closed doors, but Scotsman Sport has put together a selection of famous – and infamous – rollickings.
ALEX FERGUSON (Man United)Sir Alex is not a man to take lightly towards his detractors, although no-one could ever say it has affected adversely his ability to do the job. The Scot has, on several occasions, berated the Fourth Estate for deeds he has considered unjust.
However, the apex of Ferguson's love-hate relationship with the media came in 2002 when his big-money signing of Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron had failed to pay off as Manchester United headed towards their first trophyless season in four years.
Ferguson's notorious hackles were raised by the suggestion and his response was blunt: "He's a f****** great player. Youse are all f****** idiots."
The reporters were then told to leave the press conference room in no uncertain terms. A year later, Veron was on his way to Chelsea for half the £28.1million Ferguson had paid to take him to Old Trafford.
RON ATKINSON (Coventry)Atkinson had enough experience to recognise the importance of playing the media game – being as helpful and friendly as possible, where possible. But that outlook dissipated when the then Coventry City manager was interviewed by Sky Sports following a Monday night defeat by relegation rivals Southampton in 1996.
Previously, Sky analyst Andy Gray had worked as number two to Atkinson at Aston Villa making what happened next all the more remarkable.
The loss at The Dell had placed a question mark over the Sky Blues' presence in the top flight, a position which Gray remarked upon to Atkinson.
However, instead of batting away the comment, 'Big Ron' lost the plot saying: "I'm sorry...you can sit there and play with all your silly machines. If the boys play badly I'll whip 'em, but I ain't whipping them for that. Who was the man of the match by the way?"
Presenter Richard Keys confirmed Southampton goalkeeper Dave Beasant had earned the accolade to which Atkinson responded: "So we must have played not bad then. Thanks lads, goodnight."
Atkinson then tore off his headphones and stormed off. City stayed up but Atkinson left in November 1996.
WALTER SMITH (Rangers)In the wake of a disappointing start to France international defender Basile Boli's Rangers career, reporter Chick Young spoke with Rangers manager Walter Smith in the Ibrox tunnel.
Young's questioning was a little guarded to begin with as he skirted the issue before asking whether some players were good enough to play at the highest level.
Smith, clearly infuriated at the suggestion, rounded on the reporter and proffered a phrase – acronym FFS – which immediately rendered the interview unbroadcastable.
Sensing this, Smith launched a verbal attack on Young which included several four-letter expletives. The contribution of assistant manager Archie Knox towards the end of the interview is as hilarious as it is unexpected.
The interview can still be viewed on youtube.
STEVE McCLAREN (England)Not content with being second choice to Luiz Felipe Scolari and presiding over one of the worst England qualifying tournaments in recent memory, Steve McClaren then decided to take out his frustration on the media – not the smartest of moves for any ambitious manager.
England had failed to set the world alight in Barcelona as they laboured to a 3-0 win over minnows Andorra in the Euro 2008 campaign last year.
However, it was only in the post-match interview where McClaren threw his toys out of the pram.
After answering only a smattering of questions, the England head coach decided enough was enough, saying: "Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you", and stormed off the platform provided for the press conference. The English media reported the interview the following day and, with supporters already unconvinced by McClaren as national manager, further calls for his departure ensued before he was eventually sacked when England failed to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
JIM McLEAN (Dundee United)The most outrageous interview of all time in Scottish football.
In October 2000, Dundee United manager Alex Smith was under pressure after a poor run of results after he succeeded Paul Sturrock the previous August.
When Hearts arrived at Tannadice on Saturday, 14 October, little did anyone know what would happen later.
The Tynecastle side claimed a 4-0 win on the day prompting some United supporters to vent their feelings after the game.
However, inside the stadium, an interview between former Tannadice manager and then chairman, McLean, and BBC reporter, John Barnes, was about to unfold.
As Barnes began to ask about the future of Smith at the club – a subject McLean had apparently said he considered to be out of bounds – McLean became incensed and moved out of shot towards the reporter. There followed what sounded like a scuffle and several expletives.
McLean resigned his position just hours after the incident.
BACKGROUNDTHE arrival of Joe Kinnear at Newcastle United was greeted with little warmth by the club's supporters.
The former Wimbledon manager was brought in on a temporary basis – until the end of this month – by club owner Mike Ashley in the wake of Kevin Keegan's shock departure.
However, while Kinnear was indulging in his slanging match with the media, the prospective new owners of Newcastle were making moves to bring back fans' favourite, Keegan.
And South African businessman Jonathan Cleland is confident he can persuade the former England striker to return if his consortium is successful in buying the club.
The 46-year-old Scotland-based tycoon has confirmed he held talks with Keegan in Manchester on Monday evening, and was hugely impressed with him. Cleland revealed he is "80 per cent confident" of being able to push through a deal, but admitted he is not yet in a position to make any promises to the supporters.
He said: "My meeting with Kevin went very well. I am hugely impressed with him and I got the sense there was good chemistry between us and there is a strong mutual interest in working together. He is our preferred option, but we cannot make any concrete decisions on the managerial position until negotiations on our planned takeover are further advanced."
Cleland's public statement confirms speculation over the last week or so that Keegan could make a sensational return to St James' Park following his resignation last month. However, there is still a long way to go until the South African consortium – or indeed any other potential buyer – can appoint a manager.
Cleland and his partners claim to have lodged a bid for the club with investment bankers Seymour Pierce, who have been appointed by owner Ashley to sell it.
They and other interested parties have been asked to sign a confidentiality clause, although it is understood their offer is in the region of £300million.
The full article contains 1482 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
