Toronto FC coach John Carver was sad to see Kevin Keegan leave Newcastle United last week. Carver is a former coach at Newcastle and told the Evening Chronicle: "As a Geordie, I'm so sad to see it work out this way.

"But when you have a director of football working with you, you have to have a healthy relationship. They can't interfere with your team-building process and they have to assist you by getting the right players in.

"For example, I have Mo Johnston here as my director of football, or as they are known in North America as a general manager. He will come to me and ask me 'Who do you want?' I will then give him a list of players and he will scout them and negotiate a deal to bring them to the club.

"If Mo started recommending players to me that I haven't asked for, the system breaks down straight away.

"And if, like at Newcastle, you have two people who have different opinions, it is certain not to work, unfortunately."

The scenes of protest after Keegan's resignation at the end of last week also came as no surprise to Carver.

He said: "I am 3,000 miles away in Canada and it caused shockwaves even here. The fans are a huge part of it at Newcastle and they care about their club.

"That can either hamper your chances of success or work in your favour.

"Unlike Tottenham or Manchester United, Newcastle is the people's club and that's just the way it is in Newcastle."

Meanwhile, Carver's side are still in with a chance of making it to the MLS play-offs as the season heads into its final straight.

And he said: "I am enjoying the job. We've been crippled with injuries and international call-ups this season, with up to 10 players out at a time.

"But we're all hopeful of making the play-offs at the end of the year."