Joe Kinnear was just one of the many ‘characters’ employed by Mike Ashley, during his decade and a half in control of Newcastle United.
JFK helping to set Newcastle United on their way to relegation in the 2008/09 season, before ill-health forced home to step down.
Then things got very bizarre when Joe Kinnear was brought back as Director of Football by Mike Ashley.
A role that appeared to simply entail sitting there and taking the blame, deflecting it from the then Newcastle United owner, as not a single new first team player was bought in the summer 2013 and January 2014 transfer windows. Joe Kinnear immediately stepping down on 3 February 2014 after that second window of no buys had been completed and Yohan Cabaye sold for £20m+ at the end of January 2014.
In a very strange period, even by Ashley standards, one player became famous/infamous thanks to Joe Kinnear, in his spell as Director of Football.
As the story goes, Joe Kinnear going on a scouting mission and watching Birmingham City in action, then according to widespread media reports at the time, JFK saying he was keen to sign the lad playing down Birmingham’s left side.
That player turning out to be Shane Ferguson, playing for Birmingham, on loan from… Newcastle United.
Whether true or not, that story stuck.
Shane Ferguson made 23 Premier League appearances for Newcastle United but went on to make a good career at Millwall and most recently Rotherham, including making almost 200 Championship appearances, plus capped 57 times by Northern Ireland.
Now aged 33, Shane Ferguson has ‘returned home’ though.
The one-time Newcastle United player signing an initial one-year deal with League of Ireland Derry City.
Shane Ferguson talking to the official Derry City website:
“I’m delighted to be coming home and once I had spoken with Tiernan and heard his plans for the club, it was a simple decision.
“I’ve been training hard after a frustrating last season and I’m feeling very strong.
“I will really benefit now from a full pre-season and be ready to go when the new campaign starts.
“Derry City is obviously a club I know a bit about and I’m well aware of how passionate that support base is.
“I’m really looking forward to doing my bit to hopefully bring success to the Brandywell.”