KEVIN KEEGAN NEWCASTLE TALKS

BIG MAC - Terry McDermott arrives for training at Newcastle today

NEWCASTLE boss Kevin Keegan is locked in talks with the club board today after 24 hours of complete confusion at St James's Park.

After a day of intense speculation over the 57-year-old's position on Tyneside, the Magpies have reiterated that the former England boss has not been sacked, nor has he resigned.

A club statement said: "Newcastle United Football Club can confirm that discussions are ongoing between the board and Kevin Keegan.

FAN ZONE: Click here to read what Newcastle fans think about Keegan and have your say

"Both the club and Kevin would like to reiterate that Kevin remains as manager.

"He has not resigned nor has he been sacked, as has been confirmed in respective statements made by Kevin and Newcastle United Football Club."

The latest statement, which followed one released last night amid reports that Keegan was no longer the manager at St James' Park, will simply serve to increase the intrigue over a situation which is remarkable even by the standards of a club with an astonishing capacity for attracting headlines.

Keegan is understood to have taken legal advice and contacted the League Managers' Association over his plight.

Reduce

Keegan is known to have been unhappy with the way summer recruitment plans were handled with owner Mike Ashley implementing a policy which targeted up-and-coming players rather than the big signings Keegan had hoped for.

In addition, Newcastle's efforts to reduce the wage bill by attempting to offload some of their highest earners, and James Milner's £12million switch to Aston Villa, did not go down well.

Some reports have suggested Keegan's continued presence at St James' Park is simply the result of his need to sort out a compensation package ahead of his inevitable departure.

Others have suggested Keegan fell out with Ashley over plans to sell star striker Michael Owen and bad-boy midfielder Joey Barton.

That prospect attracted a furious response from supporters who gathered outside St James' as the rumours grew yesterday, and there was little doubt on which side of the fence their loyalties lay.

Ashley and executive director (football) Dennis Wise, the man the billionaire employed to head up the club's recruitment department, bore the brunt of the anger, and the club can expect more of the same if Keegan does eventually sever his ties with the Magpies.