Learning from Life - the pain of being a Newcastle fan

Life is painful for Newcastle fans at the moment. We’ve got an owner who has messed the club up and now wants out, disillusioned players, a temporary manager who was only offered the job because no-one else would take it, and relegation level performances on the pitch.

But for those of us in management & consulting - at least we can try to learn something from what’s going on.

A number of things have struck me as interesting and potentially useful insights into management.

The first is the way that - in seeming definance of all logic - Mike Ashley has sided repeatedly with Dennis Wise in his almost personal battle for power with Kevin Keegan.

When you look at the facts of who someone should listen to, the odds are hugely stacked in Keegan’s favour. An ex-England manager, the most successful manager of Newcastle in the modern era, and a man hugely loved by the Geordie public. Dennis Wise’s achievements? A good run at Leeds that many credit to Gus Poyet’s influence. His credentials as a Director of Football apparently able to overrule the wishes of an experienced manager? None.

So why would anyone listen to Wise over Keegan?

The answer lies in relationships. Who’s the guy who sat next to Ashley in the Director’s box at matches? The guy who engaged in friendly banter? The guy with a similar background?

Like almost all human beings, Ashley has put his trust in the person he knows best. The person who by virtue of having talked to him the most, having shared a laugh and a beer with him - he feels closest to.

Usually in life and in business, it makes a lot of sense to side with the person you trust the most. But for most of us Newcastle fans, in this case it’s been a huge mistake. I wonder if Ashley has realised this yet?

Ian