Former Newcastle United striker Mick Quinn has hit out at his former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan.
Thirty years on, Quinn has blasted Keegan's man-management skills, insisting the Newcastle struggled when it came to receiving criticism.
“I just feel Kevin wasn't a confrontational person," he told Undr The Cosh podcast. “You've seen when he's been manager of England and got a bit of stick - he doesn't like it.
“We'd all love to live in a perfect world where no one would argue with you or every decision you make is right. I'd say he made mistakes but didn't like to admit it and I just went to have a quiet word about a couple of things, being captain, he just took it personally.
“He came with Terry McDermott, came in with ideas, this, that and the other and it was great for a few weeks but he started rushing me to get back fit because we were struggling. I think he rushed me back too quickly and I was a shadow of myself. I had a word with him and did not fall out, but Kevin used to take everything personally.
“The thing is, he rightly dropped me because I wasn't fit but then when I was fit and banging in goals he wouldn't play me. I'd come on as a sub, score two, dropped the next game. On three different occasions, I broke into the team. He dropped me on each occasion and I thought 'I don't think he fancies me, whatever I'm going to do.'
Quinn also shared his pain at never receiving a worthy farewell from the Toon Army. Shortly after his bust-up with Keegan, he was moved on to Coventry City.
He added: “Big time (it hurt) because the third time I went to see him I nearly took the door off its hinges and said 'Kevin, I don't know whether I'm coming or going' he said 'you're going' and within in an hour I was down the M1, literally sent me on loan to Coventry.
“I didn't get to say goodbye to the fans, the players or anything. Three-and-a-quarter years up there, being idolised by Newcastle fans, not just to say a proper goodbye, to thank them… I was gone. That hurt pride-wise."