NEWCASTLE tans last night welcomed the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager. John Regan, the man who said Kevin Keegan leaving Newcastle felt worse, than the Queen dying, proclaimed: "Now it's long live the king."
Regan, secretary of Newcastle's Independent Supporters' Club said: "It will be a difficult job following Keegan, but Dalglish did it before at Liverpool and he'll do a fantastic job at St James".
"One thing is certain, he will get 100 per cent backing from the Newcastle supporters."
The feeling on Tyneside is that Dalglish could provide the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle needed to win that elusive championship.
"He will certainly give us more of a cutting edge," said Regan. "His presence will boost the players, the coaching staff and the fans. The message to Manchester United is Watch out, we're going for the title again.
Regan dismissed charges that Dalglish was a quitter after walking out on Liverpool and Blackburn. "He spent six years as manager at Anfield and four at Ewood Park and it's clear that his batteries have been recharged. He is a proven winner," he added.
But as Dalglish walked into St James' Park, Regan maintained there will always be a welcome on Tyneside for Keegan.
Newcastle utility man Steve Watson was delighted by Dalglish's arrival at St James' Park. "Kenny Dalglish had the players' respect even before it became clear he would be managing Newcastle because he has a superb pedigree," Watson told ClubCall.
"He has had success with other clubs and hopefully he can do the same for us. It was vital the managerial issue was sorted out quickly.
"To replace Kevin Keegan we needed someone high profile. It was always going to take someone with a great standing in the game to replace him.
"Kenny Dalglish's record in football is second to none and the lads are excited at the chance to work with him."
Rangers owner David Murray wanted Dalglish on his pay-roll for much the same reason which tempted Sir John Hall - credibility. But yesterday the lure and lucre of football management proved too much for Dalglish to resist.
Murray said: "Kenny is going to a big, big job at Newcastle United and I wish him every success. He was good enough to telephone me and he goes with my best wishes and I am sure he will do well.
"He was only in a part-time consultancy role with Carnegie International working partly on golf and partly with football. The timing is never right in these circumstances and now he has been given the chance to take on something else."
The bookmakers reacted to news of Dalglish's appointment by cutting Newcastle's title odds, with Ladbrokes now quoting them as 9-2 third favourites from 5-1.
Spokesman Ian Wassell explained: "Nobody can possibly argue with Kenny's track record in management and if anybody can build on the achievements of Kevin Keegan, then he is that man.
"But we still think Manchester United are strong favourites to win the title again, especially after their form over Christmas and the start of the New Year."
