After being axed from the 22 man US party, Kets has slagged off BR.
A report in today's Journal says it's a throwback to the darkest days of the RG regime (twerps!).
They quote Mad Dog as saying he believes he has been ostracised by BR, 'fuming' "It's the end for me here. If somebeody tells me I'm not good enough to make the starting 11 then I will accept it, but to be told I am not good enough for the first 22 is just unacceptable. This time last year it was Robert Le and Nikos Dabizas and this season it's my turn - only there is no way back for me. There is no point in me fighting to my place as the Manager has told me he doesn't want me here. Now is not the time to hang around and wait and see what happens. The situation with Rob was different because one manager left and another came in, but I can't see that happening again".
"It's time for me to leave Tyneside. I'm not a young player and I just want to play football. There's no point playing a 32 year-old in the Reserves as it denies younger players their chance. I've always given everything for Newcastle but Reserve team football is not good enough for me."

Most unfortunate that a good servant of the Club has to leave with such obvious bitterness and recrimination which I suspect he'll regret in the long term.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Answers

I won't regret his passing as a player because he's always been a headless chicken in my eyes. The best I can say for him is he was a character.
I think Bobby probably has it spot on, and in the long run, Kets will realise the favour he's been done. I'll be surprised if Bobby handled the man management side as badly as Kets is making out, though.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I agree with Clarky but reckon the journo has beefed this one up to make it sound bad. The guy is just stating the obvious, it is time to go. He sounds more philosophical to me and yes I wish him well, but like most I always knew he was super sub, not a starter. Always will have a place in my affections for getting us into the champions league with that oh so late goal...what ever he does.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I think the club should give him a parting present of the advertising hoarding he endeared, so that he can take out his frustrations on that!

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I've always loved Ketsy, but he simply is not good enough for us any more...which is very sad, but an indication of the strength of NUFC these days. He's leaving for the right reasons.

Shame he feels that he's been sidelined by YBR, but then Robson hasn't been the best person for letting players go (i.e. Keegan for England). The difference between YBR and Gullit on that front, is that YBR drops players for footballing reasons, not for internal power struggles and clash of character.

Good luck Kets, wherever you may land - try to look up now and again, mind ;-))

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

De Builder wrote: >>>>>I think the club should give him a parting present.....

Hmmm - methinks its a bit late for that! What about a tin of polish instead?

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Agree with Clarky that it's sad if Kets is leaving with bitterness. He has done a good job for us and was the sole beacon of hope when he must have produced about 95% of our shots on goal in the TSM season.

He was clearly getting out of his depth last season and it is time for him to be moving on. Thanks Kets for some great goals and just about the most extraordinary goal celebration ever seen. I hope any bitterness is in the journo spin.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Honestly, just with what I saw today of our strike force...Kets really has no hope of playing. I do admire him for saying he wants to play and will go elsewhere to do so rather than take the place of a younger player in the reserves. Sure, it must hurt, and while I never was as big fan of his as a player, he always seemd a decent man. Good luck, Kets!

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

Don't you just wish that more of the stiffs from the past few seasons had the same ambition and integrity as Kets, rather than being content to sit back and be paid obscene amounts of money (to play) for Sweet F.A ??

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000