“One down, two to go,” say Toon fans

Tony Jimenez has left his post as vice-president (player recruitment) of Newcastle United according to a statement on the club’s official website.

The only reason given in the vague release is that he has left to “persue other interests” and the assumption can be made that the consortiums involved in takeover talks have made it clear that they have no role for Jimenez. It also suggests that if new owners aren’t installed by January, Mike Ashley doesn’t intend on delving into the transfer market.

The online reaction in Newcastle is that Jimenez’s exit is a triumph for the fans and that Dennis Wise and Ashley, the two other members of the “Cockney Mafia”, will soon follow.