KEVIN Keegan left Tyneside in a state of shock, walking out on Newcastle and probably away from football for ever.
The sight of weeping fans standing in disbelief outside St James’s Park was testament to the impact “Wor Kev” has had in his five years at the club.
And as they attempted to come to terms with what many considered their worst nightmare come true, the two questions on their lips were simple: “Why?” and “Who is next?”
Rumours of Keegan’s imminent departure had been spreading across the north east since the collapse of Newcastle’s title dream in the summer.
After the final game of the season against Spurs, Keegan had dismissed his team as “absolute garbage”, publicly promising: “I will be here next year.”
Probed on Sunday about the morning’s reports that he had offered to quit again after the St Stephen’s Day defeat at Blackburn, Keegan abruptly turned tail and left the Charlton press room, indignation written all over his face.
Then yesterday the 45-year-old former Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, Newcastle and England striker said: “It was my decision and my decision alone.”
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KEVIN Dorrian is becoming something of a legend in his own lifetime as he stormed around the jumbo Dunluce links at Royal Portrush to win the first outing in the PGA Grand Prix series.
The Ards man shot a sizzling four-under-par 68 for 40 points, to take first spot and lead the series after the opening round.
Dorrian is home again for a six week spell from his job at the famed Legends Club in America and, obviously, he is making good use of his time.
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SUGAR and spice and all things, the rhyme goes, but all things nice are not on the diet agenda of doublechasing world titlist Wayne McCullough as he prepares to burn up the championship defence of Mexico’s mean hombre Daniel Zaragosa in the Hub, the nickname of New England’s gateway city of Boston.
A strict sugar-free power menu has been streamlined in the past month for Mat Tinley’s 26-year-old pretender to the World Boxing Council’s super-bantamweight crown. Wayne has had to cut out all the sugar, cut out all the sodas, the cookies which he likes and all the biscuits.
McCullough’s career and professional objectives have been redefined since a near-fatal one brush too many with making world title defences as bantamweight champion.
A wholesale fine-tuning operation has taken place over the festive season to make dead certain Belfast’s ring king is bang on the button for Zaragosa.
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ANTRIM manager Dominic McKinley has introduced several new faces in his bid to retain the Ulster Championship title and win the National Hurling League in 1997.
Gary O’ Kane, Gregory O’Kane, Allister Elliot, Sean McIlhatton, Malachy Molloy, Seamus McMullan, Sean Mullan (Dunloy); Owen Colgan, Paul McKillen, Martin McConnan, Ronan Donnelly, Gary Maybin, Benny Hill, Paul Jennings (Ballycastle); Seamus Ballie, Damien McToal (Armoy); Paul Donnelly (St Paul’s); Jim Connolly, Chris Hamill, Joe O’Boyle (Rossa); Terence McNaughton, John Carson, Ciaran McCambridge, Conor McCambridge, Aidan Delarghy, Aidan McAteer, Ruairi McNaughton (Cushendall); Sean Paul McKillop, Aidan McCloskey, Owen McCloskey (Loughgiel); Paul Graham, Eamon Graham, Aidan Mort (Cushendun); Danny McKavanagh (Sarsfield’s).
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A LINFIELD letterhead landed on the desk - an invitation to the club for a press conference to announce a new manager.
At the top of the letterhead it read, Manager: Mr T Anderson.
Amid the plush settings of the Linfield viewing lounge, former player David Jeffrey stood at the entrance, surrounded by several senior team players.
“Lads, some of you may be asked to say a few words so prepare for that,” Jeffrey said. His was an inevitable appointment.
Trevor Anderson leaves the managerial post and the door is opened for a man who describes himself as “Blue through and through.”
There are few more committed clubmen in local soccer.
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PUT any ideas of art imitating life out of your mind and guess who the following film is based on.
A young Irish boxer rises through the ranks, wins a title and unites the north’s Catholics and Protestants in emotional celebration.
Stuck?
He also has dark hair, a certain charm and problems out of the ring.
A final clue: through thick and thin he is supported by a loving attractive wife. Barry McGuigan is the wrong answer.
So say the makers of a new film starring Daniel DayLewis.
Any resemblance to persons living or dead, as they say, is purely coincidental.
