Bookies In A Spin! Who Was First Out - Keegan Or Curbishley?

Last updated : 03 September 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Keegan was "sacked" yesterday but suddenly Mike Ashley had second thoughts as a baying mob gathered outside of St James´Park shouting for his head!

So ... was he or wasn´t he sacked? The Newcastle United official line is "no".

As for Alan Curbishley, he says he is "gutted" to walk out on West Ham - but felt he had no other option after claiming he was undermined in the club's transfer policy.

The position of the former Charlton boss had been under intense scrutiny for some time, although Curbishley's men opened the new campaign with two wins from three Barclays Premier League matches which went some way to placating the club's demanding supporters.

But Curbishley's main problems were behind the scenes - under the direction of the Icelandic owners and new technical director Gianluca Nani, high earners such as Freddie Ljungberg departed over the summer as the squad, and wage bill, was cut down to size.

Anton Ferdinand and then fellow defender George McCartney - on transfer deadline day - were late departures from Upton Park against Curbishley's long-term plans for the team.

That proved a step too far for the 50-year-old, who had started his playing career at Upton Park.

"I felt I could just not stand by and let what happened [pass], especially at the weekend, so I made a decision," Curbishley told Sky Sports News.

"Some managers may not have taken this action, but I could not sit around and be silent on it.

"I am absolutely gutted I have had to come to this decision."