Kieran Maguire shares potential Newcastle Women punishment after Sunderland allegations - 'Lack of professionalism'
Kieran Maguire has been left unimpressed by Newcastle United Women after their misconduct towards Sunderland.
The Wear–Tyne derby is as hotly contested in the Women's game as it is in the men's, Sunderland facing Newcastle in front of 12,000 fans at the Stadium of Light in October 2024.
Melanie Reay will be hoping for similar crowds this season, even after Sunderland had an up-and-down year last time around.
Elanor Dale stuck around at Sunderland to provide the Black Cats with hope of an improved campaign in the WSL 2.
Controversy has now begun to creep in, thanks to Newcastle's women's side, with Maguire speaking out against the Magpies' recent antics.
Kieran Maguire fumes at Newcastle United Women's contact with Sunderland juniors
Maguire was left impressed by Sunderland's transfer business over the summer as the men's side made huge improvements after promotion.
The finance expert has now spoken out after the Mackems' biggest rivals came unstuck and were caught in breaking FA rules.
Newcastle Women have been charged after allegedly making six illegal approaches to junior players at Sunderland.
Isla Burdon-Watson, Isla Hepburn, Josie Dobson, Lily Williamson, Mollie Frewd and Sofia Clark are central to the charge, and now the case will be heard by an independent regulatory commission.
Maguire has been left unimpressed by Newcastle and, on 30 October, revealed to The Price of Football that he believes their excuse represents a lack of professionalism.
He said: "Newcastle United's Women's team have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association, because they've been claimed to have made illegal approaches to six junior players contracted to Sunderland.
"Newcastle are subject potentially to fines and other sanctions should these be upheld. Newcastle are using, as their justification for what's happened, that under FA rules, they were supposed to give seven days' notice that they were going to approach these players, and these are junior players, we're not talking established players.
"[They say] it was an administrative error, and I'm always sceptical; to me, it shows a lack of professionalism at the club."
Newcastle United Women are a mess
To suggest that tapping up junior players at a rival club is an "administrative error" is just silly, and Maguire isn't having it. Nor should he.
A WSL 2 club with the hopes of promotion will have its books in order and is unlikely to make such sizable mistakes.
The Magpies could now face a sizable fine to add to their problems on and off the pitch after Becky Langley was sacked.
Newcastle United Women's results (WSL 2):
- Newcastle 2-2 Bristol City
- Crystal Palace 2-2 Newcastle
- Newcastle 0-1 Charlton
- Birmingham City 4-2 Newcastle
- Newcastle 1-1 Sheffield United
- Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle
Performances on the pitch are seemingly to blame after winning just six points from six games, but the timing is unfortunate for Claire Ditchburn to come in as interim.
Sunderland will be hopeful that the book will be thrown at their biggest rivals after what has been a showcase of cowardice on the Tyne.
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