Change of Toon very welcome
JOHN BERESFORD is just lovin’ it, lovin’ it as Newcastle boss Eddie Howe embraces Kevin Keegan’s entertainers of the 90s.
Howe recently showed the current Toon squad clips of the Keegan side that captured the hearts of the nation, but, sadly for the romantics, not the Premier League title.
Beresford now has a spring in his step as he does the rounds of hospitality lounges as a match-day host at St James’ Park.
But at one stage he had become so disillusioned with life under previous owner Mike Ashley that he was ready to call it a day.
“The change since the new owners and Eddie came in has been incredible,” said Beresford.
“Before that happened, I was ready to jack it in.
“The club persuaded me to keep going, so I decided to give it another season and there we were bottom of the Premier League last Christmas. We had won just one game.
“I’m going around the hospitality lounges and there are fans shouting at me.
“They thought just because I worked at the club that I was close to Mike Ashley.
“I’d quickly fire back that he has never spoken to me, I don’t know the fella.
“They had suffered enough and were just offloading on me.
“Then the takeover came and I can’t tell you how different everything is.
“I’m now like a kid in a candy shop. I can’t wait to go to games.
“The atmosphere is electric, the feelgood factor is back – these fans who were yelling at me now think I was a good player again!
“Eddie has embraced the history and hopefully talking about what we did to the current players can inspire them.
“The old boys have been welcomed back.
“They can’t wait to experience the big-match atmosphere again.”