No one will sign for Joe Kinnear, says Newcastle great Rob Lee FORMER Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee believes players do not want to join the club under the current regime. By: Niall Hickman Published: Fri, September 13, 2013 0Comments Direct of football Joe Kinnear has been criticised by former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee GETTY Direct of football Joe Kinnear has been criticised by former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee [GETTY] Lee, Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, heroes of ‘The Entertainers’ side of the Nineties, hit out at owner Mike Ashley and new director of football Joe Kinnear after former goalkeeper Steven Harper’s testimonial on Wednesday attracted their biggest crowd of the season, a capacity 52,000. “Players don’t want to join Newcastle any more,” said Lee, who spent 10 seasons at St James’ Park from 1992 to 2002. “Kevin Keegan sold the club to me when I joined, but if Joe Kinnear was speaking to you, are you going to join this football club? I’m not so sure. “If we can get our best 11 out on to the pitch we can compete with anyone, but if we have one or two missing we can’t. “In an ideal world Mike Ashley should step aside, but it isn’t an ideal world. Also, if he sold it, you don’t know if you’re going to get something even worse. The likelihood is you are going to get a foreign owner as there aren’t any Geordie billionaires out there. ” Shearer, Newcastle’s record goal-scorer, said: “Like a lot of football clubs they need more players, but they did not arrive in the window. newcastle united, rob lee, midfielder, joe kinnear, mike ahsley, toonRob Lee said players stay away from signing to Newcastle nowadays [ACTION IMAGES] Kevin Keegan sold the club to me when I joined, but if Joe Kinnear was speaking to you, are you going to join this football club? I’m not so sure Rob Lee “I listened to Alan Pardew saying he wanted some players and the club were confident they would bring them in. I haven’t got a clue why they didn’t.” Former Newcastle striker Cole said: “Only three or four teams can win the league and Newcastle used to be a lot closer to them. “Kevin Keegan’s team had a fantastic opportunity but they have gone backwards since then. “Apathy is something I have never associated with Newcastle. To be told their biggest crowd was for a testimonial match is a huge surprise and it’s worrying. “If you’re not going to put finances into the team, fans are going to vote with their feet. “You’ve got to have ambition. If you keep the punters on board at Newcastle, that’s half the battle. If you upset them they will react because there is only so much they can take. The team did well a few years ago in finishing fifth but it has fallen apart.”
