Toonarama - The Management

Andy Cunningham [1930-1935] - A tough and uncompromising six-foot Scotsman, Cunningham became player-manager in January 1930 with the club struggling. He totally rebuilt the side, with crowd favourite Hughie Gallagher one of the first cleared out.

Initial improvement led to Cup glory in 1932. However two years later Newcastle were relegated with Cunningham guilty of throwing too many youngsters into an unsettled side. He failed to get United straight back and resigned.

Tom Mather [1935-1939] - Mather was an "old school" manager who progressed from the administration side of the game. Impeccably attired often sans bowler, he tried in vain to get the club back into the top flight. He had ample cash to spend, but was hampered by injuries .

In the 1937/38 season Mather's long division skills came to the fore as United cheated relegation by goal difference alone. His days appeared numbered but it was Hitler who brought the curtain down on his time on the Tyne.

Stan Seymour [1939-1947] Stan Seymour became joint manager/director as War raged across the World and he took advantage of the break to scour the local mines for new talent.

He supplemented his young squad with quality signings and United were red hot favourites for promotion when the League resumed in 1946/47. Ultimate failure and problems with some of the players persuaded the directors to appoint another full-time manager.

George Martin [1947-1950] - Martin was given sole responsibility for team selection whilst the directors retained control of contracts and transfer dealings.

Promotion was achieved in his first season and United challenged for the title in their first two seasons back in the top flight. Then in December 1950 Martin resigned almost certainly a result of his frustration at not having total managerial control.

Stan Seymour [1951-1954] Seymour stepped into the breach again and famously led the club to FA Cup Final victories over Blackpool (1951) and Arsenal (1952).

An arduous tour of South Africa was followed by 30 months of struggle as Seymour gradually dismantled the Cup winning side in an effort to recalculate a winning formula. The directors decided it was time for another full-time manager and Seymour again reverted to director only.

Dugald Livingstone [1954-1955] - Highly respected coach Livingstone was keen to put his modern coaching techniques and team selection policies into practice on Tyneside.

Despite an 8th place finish and an FA Cup victory over Manchester City his position as manager was effectively terminated within days of the Cup Final. His newfangled methods had caused dissention among the older players and his decision to drop Jackie Milburn from the Cup Final line-up was the last straw.

Charlie Mitten [1958-1961] - A controversial character appointed against a background of a divided boardroom looked like a recipe for disaster and so it proved to be. He introduced a new strip, revamped training and set about replacing the ageing side with new young blood.

Early promise was replaced by catastrophic failure as the club crashed out of the First in 1960/61. A few months into the new season - with the club struggling - he was sacked.

Norman Smith [1962] - Sixty-four year old trainer Norman Smith was the next reluctant albeit short-term occupant. He had been trainer for twenty three years and was a very popular figure at the club.

His job was straightforward; steady the ship and keep us up. Thankfully he managed to rally the troops and pull the club into mid-table. But at the end of the season he was only too eager to hand on the baton.

Joe Harvey [1962-1975] - Former captain Harvey returned to the club and set about rebuilding the side. Despite the mess the club was in he did inherit a set of excellent young players; a positive legacy of the Mitten era.

In his thirteen years at the club his inspirational leadership and nous in the transfer market brought United promotion and the Fairs Cup. He built his best side in the Seventies but the 1974 Cup Final flop brought his eventual downfall a year later.

Gordon Lee [1975-1977] - Dour Midlander Lee is the most disliked manager in United's history (probably). In his short stay he took us to a League Cup Final and guided us into the top six of the First Division and in his only full season there were goals galore.

But he sold Hibbitt and Supermac and replaced them with Gowling and Oates and gradually replaced Harvey's swashbuckling style with dour flairless football before deserting the club for Everton. ..... MORE

Richard Dinnis [1977] - Ex Schoolteacher Dinnis had been coach under Lee and player power earned him a temporary contract as manager despite the worst efforts of the directors. When he kept United on course for Europe they felt obliged to give him a permanent contract.

After a close-season of contractural wrangling between the players and directors the team fell apart during the 1977-78 season and cost Dinnis his job. ..... MORE

Bill McGarry [1977-1980] - Hardman McGarry was brought in to try and save the club and to get rid of the miscreants; he only succeeded with the latter and the club tumbled into the Second Division.

The team was completely revamped with McGarry bringing in a whole army of experienced journeymen, but despite promising starts in both subsequent seasons they fell away. A disastrous start to the 1980/81 season resulted in the sack.

Arthur Cox [1980-1984] - His demeanour was not dissimilar to fellow Midlander Lee, but Cox had a completely different view on how the game should be played. After presiding over the most boring season in the club's history he gradually turned the club around.

The catalyst for ultimate success was Keegan, but Cox was brave enough to send out a team of devastating attacking prowess but limited defensive ability. Then just as promotion was achieved he resigned because he did not feel appreciated by the board.

Jackie Charlton [1984-1985] - Enter Big Jack, rod in hand, determined to do it his way and not bow to populist pressure. He kept us afloat but his long-ball tactics, parsimonious purchases and loss of Waddle left him short of support.

When he was barracked in a pre-season friendly he packed up his tackle and disappeared up The Tyne. ..... MORE

Iam McFaul [1985-1988] - Coach and former player Willie swelled with pride when he was promoted. For three seasons he struggled manfully to keep the team up despite losing the services of Beardsley, Gazza and Goddard.

When the proceeds from the Gazza sale were reinvested in four "quality" additions the prospects for 1988/89 looked bright. But the subbuteo attack didn't flickin' kick and Little Willy was going home.

Jim Smith [1988 - 1991] - Two months elapsed before the "Bald Eagle" winged in and he traded with bullish gusto in a desperate but failed effort to keep us up.

Despite the ongoing battle for control of the club he nearly managed an immediate return, but we disastrously lost in the play-offs. He soldiered on; but his signings were dodgy, form was inconsistent and the internal feuding was escalating. Although there were rumours that Hall wanted him out he maintained it was his decision to resign.

Ossie Ardilles [1991-1992] - Fans and critics alike were impressed with the appointment of the little Argentinian. And, despite a poor run of results, his promotion of youth and his pursuance of exciting open football lifted hopes.

The desire to appreciate what he was trying to do could not mask the increasingly poor results; the fans were amazingly supportive considering he had the worst record of any manager in the club's history. But as relegation became a distinct possibility he was sacked.

Kevin Keegan [1992-1997] - King Kev ascended to the throne as United gambled everything on his charisma. And despite a threat to abdicate the Toon was saved

From then on the club had a meteoric rise to the top of the Premiership as the crowds flocked to SJ to see the thrilling fare on offer. The Entertainers were here. But with the title lost and the cash flow restricted the pressure told and the King was no more.

Kenny Dalglish [1997-1998] - Curmudgeonly Kenny was next in line and with only two more league defeats secured a place in the Champions League. But the sales of Beardsley, Ferdinand and Ginola and a serious injury to Shearer severely impacted the striking options.

It was a tough often dispiriting season enlightened by that Barcelona game and a cup run that took us to Wembley; but that's when the Toon turned. The chequebook was re-opened in the summer but for Kenny the door was soon closed.

Ruud Gullit [1998-1999] - Enter Raunchy Ruud and the Toon Army were on a promise. There was no money in the kitty and sexy football was not often on offer, but at least we were back at Wembley again. Unfortunately the climax was with anti again.

A disastrous start to 1999-2000 had Ruud filled with dread and he locked horns with Gosforth's finest. The heavens spoke from above, Duncan paid a visit and the Ruud boy was outta jail.

Sir Bobby Robson [1999-2004] - In our hour of need the brave knight doth save us, but with his noble warrior Wadsworth the going was tough. Bobby had hits and misses but with Waddy gone The Entertainers had returned to a new Wonderland.

Our kindly septuagenarian scoured the market for young talent and seem determined to sign those who had lost their way. For a while he seemed to have a perfect blend with his spicy cohorts, but then BLING! It was gone.

Graeme Souness [2004-2006] - Shepherd employed the Scotsman to break-up the brat-pack and get his flock back under control; as a safety measure it was akin to dousing fire with petrol. More than ever the club has it's dirty linen on show and it is not a pretty sight. Public slanging is and has always been a tragic trait of the Toon

The second campaign and poor results, worse football and a backroom entourage of indiscernable value had United hovering close to the precipice. Graeme demanded our forbearance and fidgety Freddie gave the "big boy" time until his patience ran out.

Glenn Roeder [2006 - 2007] - Glenn shuffled in from the Academy and acheived an impressive turnaround in fortunes culminating in qualification for the much maligned Intertoto Cup

Freddie didn't want him and Glenn didn't want the job so naturally he became our permanent manager following in the footsteps of Cunningham, Seymour, Harvey, McFaul and Keegan as a former player made good.

Despite not achieving his usual relegation in the difficult second term he didn't come up to expectations and he resigned when Freddie told him to

Sam Allardyce [2007 - 2008] -

After he finally got his man, Portly Freddie was ousted by Mighty Mike and Big Sam had a new boss.

Sam the Sham wanted to revolutionise United in the way he had at Bolton but warned it would take years to turn the club around. Mike and Chris said they understood.

Allardyce knew he had moved to a big city club but his tactics remained stubbornly small town. More success and he may have got away with it but a poor record had the team's fans and the nations media on his back.

In the end he only lasted 8 months and 24 games; the shortest reign of any permanent manager.