Kevin Keegan's future remains unclear

Kevin Keegan's future as Newcastle manager remains uncertain, despite assurances he has not quit the club.

He did not take training on Wednesday but the club say he has not been sacked while the League Managers' Association (LMA) insist he has not resigned.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan told BBC Radio 5 Live: "He is in a difficult position but he has not resigned."

Keegan's reign looked to have ended amid claims he had clashed with owner Mike Ashley over transfer policy.

The 57-year-old has only been in charge since January following the sacking of Sam Allardyce. It is his second spell as manager of the Magpies.

Bevan revealed he had spoken at length to Keegan on Tuesday evening.

"He has not resigned and he'll be discussing important issues with the Newcastle board over the next few days," said Bevan.

"I can understand there is an eagerness for more information on the problems, but at this stage it is important that we let the parties communicate and it would be inappropriate for me to pre-judge any outcome or explain the issues much more at this particular point.

"I'm just saying he has not resigned, he will be working hard to communicate with the Newcastle board and we'll have to wait and see what the outcome is over the next few days.

"Newcastle Football Club and its fans are massively important to Kevin."

Bevan added that the LMA would keep supporters, media and other stakeholders within the game fully informed of any developments. For the avoidance of doubt, the club has not sacked Kevin Keegan as manager

Club statement

Keegan's future came under the spotlight after he made his feelings plain over the Premier League club's summer transfer activity at a meeting on Monday.

Following those talks, he was again summoned by the hierarchy on Tuesday morning as rumours of his exit started to surface.

BBC Sport understands Keegan had at one stage left the club, although Newcastle issued a statement later on Tuesday, insisting he was still their manager.

"Newcastle United can confirm that meetings between members of the board and manager Kevin Keegan were held both yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday)," it read.

"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."

Several national newspapers claimed on Wednesday that Keegan was finally tipped over the edge by Ashley's attempts to sell striker Michael Owen and midfielder Joey Barton without his approval.

Others seemed to think a rift between Keegan and executive director of football Dennis Wise was the reason for the latest crisis to engulf St James' Park.

Keegan's unhappiness with the club's relative lack of signings in recent weeks certainly appears to be a factor.

The former England manager had voiced his belief on Friday - after winger James Milner's £12m departure for Aston Villa - that he would have three or four more players at his disposal by midnight on Monday.

In the event, only striker Xisco and loan signing Ignacio Gonzalez arrived on Tyneside.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who was approached to take over Newcastle when Allardyce was sacked, expressed sympathy for Keegan.

"I don't know what's gone on, I just feel sorry for Kevin Keegan because he doesn't deserve it. He deserves to be treated with the utmost respect," Redknapp told BBC Sport.

Redknapp said had he taken over at Newcastle, he would not have entertained the idea of working with a director of football.

"Maybe things went on that Kevin had no real say in," he said. "I wouldn't have had that. I wouldn't have started that way. You would have done it my way or not at all."


Courtesy :
BBC