Kinnear would love Toon comeback - Harford

Oct 10 2010 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

GET the swear jars at the ready – Joe Kinnear fancies a sensational Newcastle United comeback.

The former leader of the Crazy Gang, who was briefly Newcastle boss during their torrid relegation season two years ago, has told friends in football that he would dearly love to return to St James’ Park in the near future.

While that is not likely to come any time soon with current incumbent Chris Hughton doing such a fine job, big Joe still believes he has unfinished business on Tyneside – where his five-month spell was cut short by a serious illness.

That is the verdict of former Newcastle and Sunderland hard man Mick Harford, who played in a charity cricket match with Kinnear at Lord’s a fortnight ago and reveals his garrulous former gaffer still holds a torch for the Toon.

“I was with Joe just last week with the Bunburys (charity cricket club),” Harford told the Sunday Sun.

“I think one day he would love to go back to Newcastle – he absolutely loved his time there and holds the club, the fans and the city in the highest regard.

“He certainly made his mark there! I’m not sure it would be popular with certain people, but I think he did a good job there.

“Chris Hughton, who has done a smashing job there, worked under Joe for a spell, and I think if you asked him he would say he learned from a very experienced manager during his time.

“Joe is absolutely certain – and I fully agree with him – that he would have kept the club up if he hadn’t had his heart condition when he had it.

“When you look back at it his results were good, and I think it really harmed the club to keep chopping and changing managers that season.

“Every club needs to have its foundations and if you have a manager there who knows what they’re doing, it certainly helps.

“They had a bit of that stability there with Joe.”