Newcastle United's incoming director of football Joe Kinnear has launched a fierce defence of his managerial record in a wide-ranging radio interview.
Kinnear is expected to be officially confirmed as a director at St James' Park later today, with a remit including player recruitment and contract negotiations alongside manager Alan Pardew.
The 66-year-old declared that he signed a three-year deal with Newcastle on Sunday night, while also insisting that he brings a wealth of knowledge and contacts to the senior position.
He told talkSPORT: "I heard a silly comment of 'what can I attract?' I can open the door to any football manager in the world, anyone, that's the difference.
"I've spent my whole life talking to Alex Ferguson, week in, week out, what would you do? I can pick the phone up at any time of the day and speak to Arsene Wenger, any manager in the league. Any manager. In all the divisions. I don't know what angle they've got, if they want to sit down and argue with me. Some are talking out of their backsides, a load of tosh and I'm not accepting it.
"It's as simple as that. I have certainly got more intelligence than them, that's for sure. This job came up, which I thought was a responsible job and they are already they're jumping on the bandwagon, 'watch out Pards', but that's the snidey press around that area that have a grudge. I expect it, it's water off a duck's arse."
Kinnear then went on to mispronounce a whole of host of Newcastle players' names, with Shola Ameobi, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa labelled Shola 'Amenobee', Yohan 'Kebab' and Hatem Ben 'Afre'.
Newcastle fans are familiar with Kinnear, with the veteran coach previously spending five months in charge as manager on Tyneside before health problems forced him to stand down.
Liam Power
