Missing: One Set Of Marbles

Newcastle are in dire straits as the start of the season approaches rapidly, but the news today that the club could finally be sold to local businessman Barry Moat is a huge ray of sunshine in this dark corner of the north-east, but the past twelve months appear to have taken their toll on current Chairman Mike Ashely’s health after I stumbled across the above poster on my way home from work.

Desperation has clearly set in at St James Park after former manager Joe Kinnear, who is currently recovering from a triple heart bypass operation, claims he was offered the job by Ashley in a frantic attempt to fill the vacant position. Currently in charge are the charismatic duo of Chris Hughton and Nigel Pearson, who unfortunately for them seem way out of their depth, but share this problem with a chairman who has jumped in the deep end, but forgotten his water wings.

Fans favourite Alan Shearer has seemingly been hanging on in desperation for the opportunity to lead his Magpies out of the Championship, but a lack of any leadership appears to have signalled that he is destined to return to being a BBC pundit again this season. Although confusingly, this can’t be confirmed due to the lack of leadership and general understanding of what’s going on at the club.

With players such as Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins already out of the door and defenders Sebastien Bassong and Habib Beye expected to join the exodus, along with many others I’m sure, the Geordies will certainly face a difficult first season in the Championship.

Life after relegation is always destined to be difficult. To try and pick yourself up and return to winning to ways is a mammoth task, but to do this without an active Chairman, a permanent manager, any new players or even any idea what the future holds is disastrous for a club of Newcastles supposed stature.

The one saving grace from this perhaps, is that without any hopes, aspirations or expectations, anything positive from this season will be welcomed.

If you enjoy watching the demise of a club, Newcastle’s first game of the season against West Brom will be shown live on BBC this Saturday. If lower division football isn’t really your thing I’m sure BBC2 will be showing a film, a Greek tragedy perhaps, to maintain a running theme across both of the channels.

Tags: Newcastle United