After weeks and weeks of speculation it appears that Newcastle United ‘manager’ Joe Kinnear has finally admitted defeat.
The media have both been speculating about the future of both of Newcastle’s long-term goalkeepers Shay Given and Steve Harper. With Harper signing a new three-year deal this week, it seems that Given is ready to make a move, with Manchester City sniffing around the Republic of Ireland stopper.
Kinnear mentions that he has done all he can to keep Given at St James Park, but the 32-year-old has made up his mind.:
I have bent over backwards to keep him – I’ve tried to make him stay. He’s done 11 years here and I think he wants a new challenge.
I would be heartbroken to see him go because he is one of the best keepers in the world. But Man City keep banging on the door to talk to him.
Newcastle fans that I have spoken to appear to share Kinnear’s outlook that losing Given would be terrible for their chances of Premiership survival but after 11 years of top quality service, they can understand Given’s need to move on to bigger things.
With the Citizens reportedly offering £8 million of their new-found wealth and Steve Harper as a ready-made replacement, will it be long before we see given turning out at Eastlands?