It was never 100% clear what Terry McDermott's role was at Newcastle. Part of the coaching set-up under five managers, the scouser seemed to be employed more as a morale-booster than anything technical and has always been painted as the shoulder to cry on and the court jester who helped deflect pressure from his bosses. Having played with Keegan at Newcastle in the early '80s and before that at Liverpool, McDermott received the offer of the number two position while selling hamburgers at racecourses. If that's not an indication of his untraditional status as a coach, nothing is. McDermott was always Keegan's man; he was fiercely protective of his gaffer and friend, and it was almost unthinkable that the boss would make any decision without running it past the undoubtedly sympathetic assistant.
