Departing Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper says the club's chaotic management changes this week make sense to him.

Harper earlier this week described Joe Kinnear's appointment as an April Fool.

"Given this morning's news as well, with Derek (Llambias) leaving the club, maybe it has become a bit clearer now that it may have been more of a like-for-like swap.

"Derek did a great job getting the club back on a financially sound platform and he's left the club and Joe comes in, who knows the club and knows the players.

"If it is a like-for-like swap, he's somebody with more of a football background and knowledge. It makes sense for the club."

Asked what Kinnear was like to work for, the keeper, who will leave Toon after 20 years this summer, added: "He was very likeable.

"He was larger than life, bubbly on the training ground.

"He came in at a difficult time at Newcastle, he came almost as a fire-fighter and was only there a few months.

"But that inside knowledge he has already of the club will stand him in good stead.

"Sadly back then he was taken ill before a game away at West Brom but, as always as a Newcastle fan, there's never a dull moment."