Newcastle, Premier League, West Ham

The old adage that stability breeds success could not be less pertinent to the situations at Newcastle and West Ham.

In recent times, stability has not been an oft-used word at these two clubs. Takeovers and new rich owners ensured managers were on a constant tight-rope, a couple of bad results likely to mean an end to their tenure. Seemingly, it doesn’t matter whether a takeover is by foreigners or locals - the desire for immediate success is the same and the patience displayed by proprietor is so obviously lacking.

For West Ham, the last several years have proved turbulent and frustrating. In the midst of reaching a FA Cup final has come relegation, financial crisis, the sale of their best players, mis-management at all levels and ultimate failure to achieve lofty ambitions under their Icelandic owners.

New owners and the stunning Robinho-style capture of two Argentinean stars raised the supporters’ aspirations to elevated but unattainable levels. Yet Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, as many predicted, were more detrimental to a medium-sized club like West Ham than beneficial. A brief foray into Europe ended prematurely and the Hammers slowly slipped towards relegation. It was the fantastically talented Tevez who eventually came into form and saved the club from the drop, though only after Alan Pardew had departed, replaced by Alan Curbishley.

And yet despite Curbishley’s miracle-working at the end of the 2006-7 campaign, he always seemed near the exit door. A summer of expenditure in 2007 once again raised objectives to unmanageable levels.

Once Curbishley confirmed the expected, as West Ham culminated in mid-table, and was forced to sell his best players because a short-term strategy had, unsurprisingly, failed to come to fruition, his days were numbered.

The former Charlton boss exited on the 3 September despite an encouraging start to the new campaign, and West Ham returned to their chaotic machinations.

The arrival of the under-qualified Gianfranco Zola has not won over all the fans and the players’ response came in the form of a defeat to West Brom, relegation candidates who had yet to register a victory. A tough year surely lies ahead, with the lack of continuity utterly relevant in West Ham’s troublesome recent past. The club’s outlook relies heavily on Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, and whether the billionaire owner can offer it any stability and long-term planning. Only then will it be possible for Zola - who is the fifth manager in seven years at Upton Park - to flourish.

Newcastle’s owner does not originate from the Middle East or United States. Mike Ashley, however, is proving as dangerous and unwanted as the likes of the Glazers or the Hicks/Gillett partnership. Prior to him, St James’ Park had to suffer the incompetence’s of Freddy Shepherd and the constant changes in manager, worries over funds, and perennially high expectations.

Kevin Keegan’s departure took many of the supporters to the end of their tether. Ashley had lost a fan’s favourite because, like at West Ham, the board had tried to sell key members of the Newcastle squad behind Keegan’s back - while not offering him funds he expected for new players.

From Shepherd’s bizarre decision to rid of Newcastle’s most successful coach of recent times, Sir Bobby Robson, to the comings and goings of the likes of Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce, the club have time and again demonstrated that they do not intend to offer a manager any extended period of time in which to instill his own ideas and plans on the squad.

The defeat at home to Hull was not only shocking for a club that each year intends to fight for a place in Europe, but vindication for the supporters who protested Keegan’s exit and Ashley’s actions. The days of sitting with the fans, with the almost sickening pretence of being one of them, are over - and surely also his reign as king of the club.

What Newcastle need next, though, is not flashy new owners wanting to splash the cash and change the club’s fortunes within a few short months. Instead, an owner who will appease the supporters and not put a date on success.

Newcastle, like West Ham, also made a decent start to the season with a draw at Manchester United and victory against Bolton. Keegan was set well set to take the club further having rescued them last season from an unthinkable relegation. But without transfer control or funds, that would never have been possible. Owner Ashley is the culprit and more turmoil is certainly unhelpful to such a fragile club, who may again be struggling to pull their weight this season while desperately searching for their seemingly lost identity.

Tags: Alan Curbishley, Alan Pardew, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, Bobby Robson, Carlos Tevez, Freddy Shepherd, Gianfranco Zola, Hull City, Javier Mascherano, Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley, Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United

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