Keegan sings out of Toon

Kevin Keegan has come under fire from the Newcastle fans after the former manager's revelations about why he left the club. Keegan, now in charge at Fulham, claimed in his autobiography serialised in the Sun, that he was deprived of a "dignified" exit and forced out of St James' Park as the club prepared for flotation.

However, Steve Wraith, who edits a Newcastle fanzine, said: "We are very upset at the way Kevin has sold his story. It's disgusting that Kevin should chose to make money out of the emotions of Newcastle fans. I'm surprised at how bitter Kevin is."

Newcastle yesterday remained silent over the claims in the book. They have refused to comment on Keegan's allegations, outlined in his book, Kevin Keegan - My Autobiography.

Keegan says that at Christmas last year he was ready to quit St James' Park after five years as manager because he felt he could no longer motivate his players or himself - and he had become disillusioned with the way team matters were playing second fiddle to the pending club flotation.

He said he agreed with board members to stay until the end of the season and he shook hands with chief executive Freddie Fletcher. But on January 7th Keegan was summoned to a board meeting where he was told that he was an "integral part of the flotation document" and would have to sign a two-year contract or leave straight away.

"I knew what had happened," said Keegan. "The board dared not reveal to the City that I was leaving in the summer. They couldn't lie either, so they panicked."

The Barry Town left-back Garry Lloyd yesterday became the first non-League player since the Second World War to be called up by Wales.

Former Wales manager Terry Yorath is poised to return to management with Huddersfield Town, who dismissed Brian Horton yesterday.