Kinnear's return unearths painful memories
It's easy to see why Joe Kinnear's return to Tyneside irked one or two Newcastle United supporters.
But let's get first things first, when the former Wimbledon boss was astonishingly handed the job back in 2008 during the aftermath of Kevin Keegan's departure nobody could blame him for accepting the post of boss - even if it did cause a stir in the dressing room and arguably laid the foundations for relegation.
Let's be honest, how many out of work managers wouldn't take the chance of a lifetime and manage the Magpies?
Kinnear gave it everything at Newcastle while was here and unfortunately suffered heart problems while on the job.
He was happy to work with the local media and never afraid to tell people what he thinks as the national Press pack found out in a controversial first meeting in his first days in the job.
After a recent visit to Tyneside he revealed he warned Mike Ashley not to appoint Alan Shearer in 2009 as he didn't have the experience and wasn't suitable at that time.
However, while Shearer put his hands up after relegation and accepted some responsibility, Kinnear did not.
Back then Shearer felt that Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Kevin Keegan had also played a part in a shocking slide into the Championship.
Kinnear left United in 13th place before suffering heart trouble but won just four games from 20 despite talking about all of his experience - and is the only Toon manager to lose a derby on Wearside in 32 years!
In my opinion Kinnear played his part in relegation as much as anybody, and let's be honest his appointment in 2008 left most fans mystified - not to mention players.
At that time one senior figure at Newcastle United stood up moments after learning of Kinnear's appointment and uttered: "Somebody is taking the **** at this club."
And despite helping Newcastle slightly recover from the loss of Keegan - another story all together by the way - Kinnear talking about his time on Tyneside has understandably triggered some negativity amongst Toon fans.
After all many fans will always feel traumatised after experiencing the worst Premier League campaign in the club's history.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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