Apart from my own GAA club here in Dunboyne (Ireland) who haven’t won the Meath Senior Hurling Championship in 112 years, it’s quite likely that one of the longest chasms anywhere between sporting successes came to an end when Mayo won the All Ireland SFC on Sunday last for the first time in 75 years.
Prior to Eddie Howe steering Newcastle United to a deserved League Cup triumph a couple of years back, I am not sure how long it was since The Magpies lifted a trophy but there was a time, in a different world, where doing such a thing would provide job security for as long as it was desired.
You’d have particularly thought that would have been the case with the Toon Army having not only qualified for European football but acquitted themselves with particular aplomb therein.
However, seeing Amanda Stavely and the others involved in her control of the club move away from it should’ve been sign enough that, despite appearances, all was not well behind the scenes.
Inclinations only heightened when you consider that Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and, now seemingly, Bruno Gumerias, on the way out of the club. Not only could you understand things going pear shaped on the field but, equally so, why Eddie Howe – or any manager for that matter – couldn’t find the exit quick enough.
Moreover, it’s for that reason there’s a sense of admiring relief that – as appears to be the case – the affable Howe managed to step off stage himself before being pushed. Which he absolutely would not deserve.
It just seems pitifully ironic that the storied old club would have descended into such turmoil around the time their greatest ever representative, Kevin Keegan, was called ashore to the big dugout up above.
Mind you, regardless of what chaotic state his erstwhile employers might find themselves in, he is too good a man to be out of work for too long.
Indeed, with Stavely reportedly on the verge of taking a 25% stake in recently relegated West Ham which the heretofore owners the Gold family seemingly relinquished, and with the scatter gun manner in which things happen in football these days, it would it no way shock if Howe ended up with/for Stavely again.
Mind you, that, in turn, would of course mean the defenestration of Nuno Espirito Santo who – in fairness to The Hammers – was afforded a bit of decency all too often missing in football today and left in his position at the London Stadium despite the claret and blue going through the trap door and out of the Premier League.
If, or in all probability when, the former Upton Park outfit do eventually enact no more Nuno, he’s not likely to be on sidelines looking in – pun entirely intended – for too long. As for steady Eddie, the same process can absolutely be applied. I’d have thought he would (and should) have managed Manchester United by now, but, when the English conspiracy theories regarding Thomas Tuchel (see Harry Redknapp for details), the apparently soon to be erstwhile chief at St James’s Park would be top of the shopping list if it were up to me.
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