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This from soccernet.

Keegan quit rumours hit Newcastle

By Soccernet staff

Updated: September 2, 2008, 1:16 PM UK

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Kevin Keegan has 'quit' as manager of Newcastle United following a meeting with the club's directors, according to sources.

The 56-year-old did not take training on Tuesday morning but the Magpies are yet to confirm the speculation.

Reports suggest that Keegan was unhappy with the club's transfer policy. Last week 22-year-old James Milner was sold to Aston Villa for a fee of £12million, despite Keegan insisting he wanted the winger to remain on Tyneside.

Tension over transfers has simmered ever since Dennis Wise was drafted in as Executive Director (Football) to head up activity in the market, only weeks after Keegan's appointment.

At the time the former Newcastle player, who joined the club for a second spell as manager in January 2008, insisted he had no problem with Wise's surprise appointment.

The bookies have stopped taking bets on Keegan to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job and have installed Wise as the favourite to take over at Newcastle.

Keegan's first stint as Toon boss began in 1992 and after five successful years at the helm he shocked the footballing world but in January 1997 by announcing his resignation.

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They are saying he is not sacked and has not resigned. :o

This from soccernet.

Club says Keegan not sacked as Toon boss

By Soccernet staff

Updated: September 2, 2008, 7:15 PM UK

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Kevin Keegan has not been sacked as Newcastle United manager, according to a statement issued from St James' Park.

Speculation has mounted all Tuesday that the Geordie idol had been sacked after a row over transfer policy with owner Mike Ashley and director Dennis Wise. However, United said: 'For the avoidance of doubt the Club has not sacked Kevin Keegan as manager.'

The statement was released as a baying mob of Toon fans stood outside St James' Park. Bookmakers had stopped taking bets on the Premier League's next managerial casualty. Many sources suggested Keegan had either left the club or had been removed. Reasons for the parting of the ways had been suggested as lack of movement in the transfer market and a dispute over Joey Barton. The midfielder, recently released from prison, was linked with a number of Premier League clubs prior to the transfer window closing on Monday night.

However, after hours of radio silence from the club the following statement was released: 'Newcastle United can confirm that meetings between members of the Board and manager Kevin Keegan were held both yesterday and today.'

'Kevin has raised a number of issues and those have been discussed with him. The Club wants to keep progressing with its long-term strategy and would like to stress that Kevin is extremely important, both now and in the future.'

'Newcastle United values the effort and commitment shown by Kevin since his return to St. James' Park and wants him to continue to play an instrumental role as manager of the Club. For the avoidance of doubt the Club has not sacked Kevin Keegan as manager.'

Keegan himself did not attend training at Newcastle and is yet to publically speak on the subject.

And this from the BBC.

Keegan 'has not quit Newcastle'

Keegan also managed the club between 1992 and 1997

Kevin Keegan has not resigned as boss of Newcastle United, according to the League Managers' Association (LMA) chief executive Richard Bevan.

Keegan's future and the manager's role at Newcastle remains unclear.

Bevan spoke to the 57-year-old on Tuesday night after the club insisted it had not sacked him.

"Newcastle Football Club and its fans are massively important to Kevin and he has not resigned as manager of the club," said Bevan.

BBC Sport understands Keegan had left the club on Tuesday following a series of meetings with the board.

But in a statement, the club said: "Kevin has raised a number of issues.

"We'd like to stress Kevin is extremely important both now and in the future and want him to continue to play an instrumental role as manager."

However, the statement did not go into detail as to whether Keegan had left the club in the preceding hours as BBC Sport had been led to understand.

606: DEBATE

Give your reaction to the Kevin Keegan managerial saga

Keegan has "been in discussions" with Bevan, said a statement from the LMA.

"Over the course of the next few days Kevin will be communicating with the club's board to discuss a number of important issues," it added.

"The LMA will keep supporters, media and other stakeholders within the game fully informed of developments."'

Many Newcastle supporters have been angered by the developments, and the confusion surrouding Keegan's future.

Angry Newcastle fans gathered outside the ground during the day

BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard said: "Newcastle say he hasn't been sacked. The LMA say he hasn't resigned. No-one is actually saying Keegan is staying as manager."

One of the main areas of dispute is believed to be the future of controversial midfielder Joey Barton, a player who Keegan has strongly supported.

Barton was recently in jail for 74 days for an assault conviction and will also be attending a personal hearing on Friday after admitting a Football Association violent conduct charge.

Tuesday's events came as something of a surprise given Newcastle's positive start season after picking up a point at Manchester United and then beating Bolton prior to Saturday's defeat at Arsenal.

Outside St James' Park, Newcastle fans made their feelings known about the managerial speculation, with a large majority in support of Keegan and calling for owner Mike Ashley to step down.

It was a very different reaction for Ashley from the fans in June last year when he was deemed the club's saviour after completing a £135m takeover.

He then sacked Sam Allardyce as manager at the start of 2008 after a run of poor results and shocked the football world by bringing back Keegan for a second spell in charge.

The former Newcastle striker's first spell as manager was between 1992 and 1997, when he saved the Magpies from dropping to the third tier of English football and almost guided them to the Premier League title in 1997.

Report: Keegan confusion hits Newcastle

But this time round, rumours of discontent began to emerge when Ashley brought in Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez in positions which gave them powers over transfer dealings.

"Dennis Wise, as people have mentioned, came in," former Newcastle winger Chris Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Then coach Chris Hughton came in and you thought, 'Where did Kev pick him from or was he picked for him?'.

"It has never been a happy relationship."

Keegan's relationship with Ashley was also not helped when in May the manager said he did not believe Newcastle could become a top-four club.

The transfer window saw the arrival of six players at Newcastle, with five players leaving the club.

James Milner was one of those who left last week, transferred to Aston Villa for a fee of £12m, with Keegan admitting it had been difficult to see the 22-year-old leave.

Keegan walked out on Newcastle in 1997, after his first spell, stating "I feel I have taken the club as far as I can". He also resigned from his post as England coach in 2000.

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  • 1 month later...
Ist to go Ramos

Do I get a prize as he IS the first manager to be SACKED this season :o

Just shows it is a short walk from being a Messiah one minute.................

What on Earth were they thinking letting Defoe, Berb and Keano go.

Moss

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