Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan has launched a scathing attack on Toon chiefs Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias, claiming the club will 'never go anywhere' under their leadership. Writing in his regular ESPN column, Keegan said: "Chris Hughton's shock departure from St James' Park this week has once again demonstrated that Newcastle United need some stability, but you will never get stability when you have Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias running the club.
"Ashley has made no secret that he wants to sell Newcastle, and the best day will come when someone buys it from him and runs Newcastle like that club should be run.
"The club can never go anywhere under Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias - it can't go anywhere, I promise you that."
Keegan went on to criticise the dismissal of manager Chris Hughton earlier this week.
"I lived with the same people for eight months - I didn't understand them then and I don't understand them now, and I don't think many of the fans do.
"When a man buys a club like Mike Ashley did, and he knows as little about football as he does, he is likely to make these sort of mistakes and these sort of judgements, and still think he is doing okay.
"When you get the fans saying it is the wrong decision, when you get the players saying it is wrong and when you even get the press saying it is wrong, it tells you, unsurprisingly, that the decision is the wrong one."
Keegan also expressed sympathy for new manager Alan Pardew, appointed yesterday on a five and a half year deal. Describing him as ' a good lad... [who] is very dedicated and he works very hard', Keegan nonetheless predicted he'd struggle to win over the Toon Army.
"The sad thing is that Alan is going in and is getting off on the wrong foot through no fault of his own.
"The supporters won't be resistant to Alan because of the circumstances of his appointment, though. Any criticism will be levelled at Llambias and Mike Ashley, because it is their decision.
"The fans would be wrong to pick on Alan. Obviously if results don't go well then they may start to voice discontent, but Alan is just the meat in the middle of the sandwich here."
