Joe Kinnear defends Newcastle's transfer failure

Joe Kinnear, Director of Football, Newcastle United

Joe Kinnear has defended his actions as the Director of Football for Newcastle United after the club failed to secure a single permanent signing in the summer transfer window.

Newcastle United were only able to land Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers on a season long loan deal and failed in the pursuit of many other targets.

Kinnear, in his article in the matchday programme, claimed: “It was very frustrating that we did not add at least another signing to the squad in the recent window, but it was not for lack of effort.

“It was not an easy task to improve the quality of the current squad with the financial resources at our disposal, particularly in a window in which the value of players was grossly over-inflated and the demands of agents likewise.”

“I worked very hard on several targets and we made a number of bids for players, but for various reasons – some of which were outside the club’s control – we were unable to secure our targets.

The former Tottenham player also said: “We will continue to operate in a financially responsible manner, buying only the right players for the right prices and not paying over the odds or making costly knee-jerk decisions.

“This is the reality of a well-run football club that lives within its means. When the deal is right and the player can add real quality and depth to the squad, we have the ability to spend.”