MIKE ASHLEY BLASTS KEEGAN

FURIOUS Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has launched an amazing attack on ex-boss Kevin Keegan as the Toon Civil Wor turned even more ugly.

Keegan walked out on Thursday, accusing football director Dennis Wise of buying players he did not want. But Ashley insists Keegan:

• KNEW from the day he was appointed he would have to report to a director of football.
• Suffered NO interference in the running of the team from any board member.
• BROKE an agreement not to talk publicly about Newcastle's transfer policy.

Ashley also blasted Keegan for allowing the League Managers' Association to issue a statement on the dispute which led to his resignation.

Keegan quit - just eight months after replacing sacked Sam Allardyce - following heated talks between himself, the Newcastle board, lawyers and the LMA.

Last night Newcastle issued a no-holds-barred statement. It read: "NUFC wished, at all times, to keep any dispute that it had with Kevin Keegan private.

"It is, therefore, disappointing information has reached the media through unnamed sources and a briefing has been given by the League Managers' Association that could give rise to a misleading impression amongst the club's fans.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan, on appointment on January 16, 2008, agreed to report to a Director of Football and to the Board. It is a fact that Kevin Keegan worked within that structure from January 16 until his resignation.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan, as manager, had specific duties in that he was responsible for the training, coaching, selection and motivation of the team.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan was allowed to manage his specific duties without any interference from any board member.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan agreed only to deal with the media in relation to club matters relating to the team and not to communicate with the media in relation to the acquisition or disposal of players.

"It is a fact that NUFC is a business and operates, like all businesses, with financial constraints."