KEVIN KEEGAN will not resign as Newcastle United's manager and is unlikely to be sacked when he meets Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise in London at 11am this morning. "I've got three years on my contract and I am looking forward to the next three years - at least - here," said a quietly defiant Keegan yesterday. "I am going to London to talk to Mike Ashley tomorrow; that's a good thing, I look forward to it."
Even so it could prove an uncomfortable morning for the former England coach who is currently involved in an apparent turf war with Wise, Newcastle's executive director (football), over their respective spheres of authority and has evidently suffered a severe communication breakdown with Ashley, the club's owner.
Keegan has been summoned to the capital by a reportedly angry Ashley who seemingly wants him to explain his distinctly off-message comments after Monday's defeat by Chelsea. By including Wise in the gathering it appears that the sports-retail billionaire intends to knock heads together.
After the Chelsea game Newcastle's manager expressed "disappointment" that his board had failed to heed his advice of six weeks ago that they open contract talks with Michael Owen, admitted that he had "no proof" funds would be made available to him this summer and claimed his relationship with Ashley was "excellent" because they "never spoke".
Moreover Keegan said it would be impossible for Newcastle to finish in the top four during the next three years.
Yesterday, though, the 57-year-old appeared to be approaching the summit with the sort of humour-infused confidence that comes with knowing the fans would turn on Ashley were Newcastle's owner to dispense with his services. When one person complained that the club's media room was rather hot, Keegan joked: "You ought to sit where I am." While Newcastle's manager is clearly unhappy about the Owen impasse and the lack of information concerning his budget, and also has reservations regarding Wise's decision to scout for uncut diamonds in South America rather than attempt to sign proven Premier League players, he is not entirely discontented.
"I have really enjoyed coming back to the club I love," he said. "It's fantastic. At the training ground you can see money being spent on new pitches.
"And from the fact we went in for Luka Modric (the Croatian courted by Wise but who joined Spurs), it's obvious that there is some money there. So lots of things are very positive. There are a few little negative things from different areas but you have to take them with a pinch of salt. From where I sit it is almost laughable."
Sven-Goran Eriksson is waiting to see what happens to Avram Grant at Chelsea before he commits himself to Benfica, or any of the other clubs who have approached him, now that it is an open secret that he will shortly leave Manchester City.
Eriksson has been led to believe that he stands a good chance of getting the job at Stamford Bridge if Roman Abramovich decides to pay off Grant after the Champions League final later this month.
Eriksson would prefer to stay in England and his elaborate network of contacts, including some of the more powerful agents in the business, are working on his behalf. The Swede is fully aware about Grant's precarious position.
If Grant keeps his job Eriksson is resigned to leaving England. Italy is his next favourite destination and he is monitoring the situation at Internazionale. A delegation of Benfica officials met the Swede in Manchester on Wednesday to offer him a three-year contract worth an annual £1.8 million.
Guardian Service
