Mick Harford's proposed appointment as assistant to
controversial Newcastle director of football Joe
Kinnear has collapsed.
.
Harford, who had a brief spell as a Newcastle striker
during his long career, was in discussions with the
Premier League club about joining up with his former
Wimbledon manager Kinnear.
.
It had been suggested that Harford, who also worked
as an assistant to Kinnear at Luton and Nottingham
Forest, would concentrate on scouting the domestic
transfer market, helping to identify potential targets
from the lower leagues and monitoring those players
sent out on loan by manager Alan Pardew.
.
However, news of the talks sparked claims Pardew
was being undermined amid accusations that
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was installing a
shadow management team above him.
.
Kinnear was put in charge of all football-related
matters when he was controversially appointed to his
new post by Ashley, but the Magpies remain the only
Premier League club yet to sign a player since the
end of last season.
.
And Harford admitted on Monday that he had
decided to remain as an assistant at Championship
side Millwall rather than move to St James' Park.
.
"After meeting with Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear, I
made the hard decision that it is not the right time
for me to take up this role," Harford told Sky Sports
News.
.
"It was an honour to be asked to work at a fantastic
club and I have the utmost respect for the Newcastle
United and its fans. I am currently enjoying a role
helping out at Millwall, but would like to thank Mike
Ashley and Joe Kinnear for the opportunity."
Newcastle FC is very dope right about now when it comes to their position in the English Premier League...Dope one.