Joe Kinnear: an alternative look at Public Relations

In a Premier League with plenty of sophisticated, bi-lingual and cultured managers it was refreshing to hear Joe Kinnear's brand of English in full flow earlier this week.
It was like returning to a bygone age when managers told the press what they really thought.
"Which one is Simon Bird?"
"Me."
"You're a c***."
"Thank you."
That succint introduction is surely the best opening to a press conference in history.
There is a serious point, however, to Kinnear's award-winning work on public relations.
The relationship between football clubs and journalists has been far from harmonious for some time and this sorry episode has served to highlight quite how low journalists' stock has fallen.
Our reputation as among the most hated professions in the country alongside politicans, estate agents and now, probably, investment bankers is clearly showing no imminent signs of recovery.
While other managers would be hard pushed to beat the commendable honesty of Kinnear, one assumes their thoughts are not too dissimlar.
It never used to be that way, according to my more experienced colleagues.
So what is to blame?
Sloppy journalistic practices over the past 20 years encouraged by some deeply misguided and parochial editorial agendas have contributed hugely.
As a result, the role of the press officer is now an integral cog in the communication between journalists and players.
Gone are the days when footballers can forge relationships with journalists and make their own adult judgements without undergoing "media training" or facing a form of wrist-slapping from club, agent or both when they talk openly.
Ostensibly, the manager-journalist-press officer triangle is workable but the outburst from Kinnear this week revealed just how deep-rooted the mistrust has become and how much antagonism exists.
What was pleasing about Kinnear's response to the Newcastle press officer's futile claims that the issues discussed at Newcastle United this week remain off the record, was his willingness to let the assembled hacks write what they want.
Oddly, it was precisely what journalists want: honesty, transparency and emotion.
Can we have a few more like Kinnear, please?