Keegan: Given Has No Problems With Owen Captaincy

Keegan sprung a surprise by naming Owen as captain ahead of his first game back in charge in what seemed to be an attempt to draw a line under their past disagreements and start afresh. In this line of thinking, Given was collateral damage in Keegan's peace agenda, but the coach insists that his undisputed first choice keeper harbours no resentment.


The former England manager said: "I told Shay I would like Michael to lead it from the front and he said; 'fine I totally understand. I've got no problems with that'.


"I looked at the players I had, and I honestly believed Michael was the most experienced player on the pitch, along with Shay."


Keegan was curiously non-committal about whether the captain's armband will be Owen's to keep, though the suggestion was that this would indeed be the case.

"I think we'll leave it (the captaincy) with him at the moment, and if he comes to me and says he enjoys it, then we can look at it longer term," he concluded.

The pint-sized England striker made an inauspicious start to his time as Newcastle captain, as he failed to register a single shot on goal during the anti-climatic scoreless draw with Bolton.

Pompey Deny Sol Bust-Up As Newcastle Loom

Sol Campbell was involved in a public spat with Portsmouth chief Peter Storrie, and has since been linked with a move to Newcastle.

The subject of the bust-up was Pompey's lack of ambition, and their inactivity in the transfer window to arrest what has been a slide in form over the last couple of months.

Portsmouth looked favourites for at least a Uefa Cup berth in October, but are now slipping backwards, and Campbell is not too pleased.

With Newcastle expected to start moving upwards, he is said to have stormed out demanding a move to Tyeside, and did not feature in the 3-1 win against Derby County.

However, the club have played down the spat.

Said a spokesman: “It’s quite simple. Sol had a back problem and he’s been having treatment on it all week.

"We hoped he would be fit but he couldn’t make it.

"I spoke to Peter Storrie about it [the spat] and he laughed and said it was rubbish.”

However, reports in this morning's dailies suggest that Campbell has made up his mind, and wants to join Kevin Keegan, whom he played under for England.

Owen Uplifted By Keegan Appointment

Striker Michael Owen has hailed the second coming of Kevin Keegan to the Toon.

Dispelling fears that there might be friction between the pair stemming from Keegan's time as England manager, Owen - whom Keegan has astutely named as the Magpies captain - has reacted positively to the 56-year-old's sensational appointment.

Owen had made some negative comments about the way he felt he was treated when Keegan was in charge of England. The perception was there was a rift between the two men as a result.

But Owen, 28, insists all that is in the past.

He told today's News of the World: "What I said in my book a few years back was an honest opinion and I stand by it.

"I don't see any need to take those words back - and from the comments Kevin made in his first press conference on Friday afternoon, he felt the same way."

Owen has also addressed head-on the persistent rumour that his heart is not in it at St James' Park - a rumour fuelled by the media having linked him with moves away from Newcastle more or less since he joined the club for £17million in 2005.

The striker says he is more determined than ever to make his mark at Newcastle under Keegan.

"Anyone who is not uplifted by his arrival must have something seriously wrong with them," stressed Owen. "The fans and players are certain to respond.

"It seems there will be money available for him to spend on the team and he'll bring back the style of play the fans want, a way that lets me play the way I can be most effective.

Owen added: "Kevin has been quoted as saying he has unfinished business at the club and that's exactly how I feel.

"There has been loads of speculation which has left me in a no-win position. If I say nothing, people think there is something in the rumours but if I respond to them I would spend all of my week denying them.

"I have not been fit enough for long enough to show the fans what I can do but if I can stay 100% right, I know I will do well here under the new manager."

Newcastle Linked With Sol Campbell & Barry Robson

Kevin Keegan would like to take Portsmouth's veteran defender Sol Campbell to St James' Park.

He sees the former Arsenal and Tottenham defender as the man to help plug Newcastle's porous back-four.

And although Campbell, who played under Keegan for England, is understood to be happily settled with Pompey on the south coast and unlikely to fancy moving north at this stage of his career, the Sunday Express feels Keegan may well try to tempt him away from Fratton Park with a lucrative offer.

Keegan may have more joy with a move for Dundee United's Barry Robson.

Scottish newspaper the Daily Record says the Magpies are well aware of the Scotland midfielder's availability, and ready to make a bid to take him south of the border.

Celtic are expected to make an offer for Robson but Keegan is said to be ready to outbid the Hoops with billionaire owner Mike Ashley's backing.

Keegan has spent the last three years in Scotland with his Glasgow-based Soccer Circus project, and believes Robson can make an impact in the English Premier League.

Speculation about the Terrors' captain has intensified in recent weeks, but Keegan's return to Tyneside has brought Robson sharply into focus at St James' Park as the new manager implememts a rebuilding plan.

A source close to Robson is quoted by the Daily Record as saying: "Barry believes he can play at the highest level and there is a lot of interest in him. There is no definite contact but his ambition is to prove himself among the best.

"He'll have to weigh up his options over the next couple of days but he has never hidden his intention of being able to cut it at the highest level."

Shearer: I Will Call Keegan This Week

Rumours of a reunion between the two began as soon as Sam Allardyce was sacked by the club.

Keegan was eventually coaxed out of retirement by club owner Mike Ashley and announced as the club's new manager earlier this week.

He beat the likes of Didier Deschamps, Mark Hughes, Harry Redknapp (who ruled himself out) and indeed Shearer himself to the post, much to the delight of Newcastle fans.

Many were also behind Shearer, but most agreed his lack of experience made his appointment too large a risk, and that instead he should be appointed as an assistant to work under the new boss.

Since taking the job, Keegan has revealed he will be speaking to Shearer about a role at the club, and Shearer has now told Match of the Day they spoke briefly on Friday and will be holding further talks to nail down a specific role for the ex-England striker at St. James' Park.

"I've got to ring him [Keegan] when I get back at the end of the week," said Shearer.

"I'll sit down with him at the end of the week and we'll discuss it and see what's best for everyone."



"He's (Kevin) been that busy. He's gone into the football club, he's got that many staff there, he doesn't know some of their names.


"He had a huge game today, which was far more important than speaking to any individual."

Shearer is looking at the job as vital experience, as he no doubt hopes to succeed Keegan someday.


"It'll be experience," he said. "Newcastle said they were looking for experience in the first place. They've certainly got that with Kevin. He's been round the block a bit."

Keegan Disappointed For Fans After Bore-Draw New Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was a little saddened that he couldn’t deliver an entertaining game f

“Well it is disappointing in the end, because the last thing you want is a goal-less draw but it is unfortunate it finished 0-0”, said Keegan, before explaining that the players were suffering from previous encounters.


“These players have played most of the games and it was disappointing but I felt that we suffered a-bit because we played with ten men for an hour in our midweek game.


“I was looking at a couple of players and they looked tired towards the end, a little leggy.


“They tried hard out there and played with a lot of endeavour, but it seems we were trying a little too hard.


“I really didn’t want a 0-0 because the stadium was rocking and for the fans I wanted the right result but it wasn’t to be”.


Building on the theme of a lack of players, Keegan turned towards the issue of spending some of owner Mike Ashley’s fortune to bring players into the club in the January transfer window.


“We need players. That is clear, everyone in the club and the squad is telling me that.


“But it’s a case of bringing in quality, real quality. I don’t want to bring just anyone into this club, so we’ll see what we can get.”

Keegan was revealed as the successor to Sam Allardyce this week in a development that took everybody by surprise. After an 11 year absence, the ‘messiah’ is looking to get off to a winning start against Bolton in front of an electric home crowd.

However, the Trotters will be looking to cause an upset and spoil the Toon party.

“I’m sure it’ll be a carnival atmosphere,” said Megson. “I don’t think too many Geordies will realise who they’re actually playing against because it’s all going to be about Newcastle and Kevin, and you accept that.

“I think the fact that Kevin’s come back makes it a harder game for us. A new manager’s come in but not just any new manager to the Newcastle faithful, it’s Kevin Keegan.

“I think there’ll be a big party and what we’ve got to do is try to go and spoil the party. We’re going to face a team that’s up and at us so we’ve got to stop that momentum gathering from the word go.

“We’ve got to ignore the hype and go about an away game in a much more resolute fashion” he added.

Megson revealed however that he was not surprised that the Newcastle board chose Keegan to get them back on track.

“Every time the job has come up the first name they all want is Kevin” Megson said.

“He was out of work and saying he wasn’t coming back into football but this is Newcastle.

“The chairman would have put together a blueprint for the kind of manager he wanted and you could put KK on top of it. He’s got a great record, he’s a good guy and a good manager, and they just seem to go together - when he was a player there and as a manager.”

It seems that the gesture is an attempt by Keegan to draw a line under their past disagreements and start afresh.

Owen revealed in his autobiography that his relationship with Keegan was not a good one and must have been feeling a little nervous when it was announced that Keegan was the man to replace Sam Allardyce at St. James Park this week.

However, Keegan has revealed that he has no problem with the England striker, even though he was shocked by the revelations in Owen’s book.

The new Toon boss has decided to install Owen as captain for his first game in charge with Bolton as he attempts to restore some faith in Newcastle.

"Not only will he play, I will make him captain. He is the right guy to lead us - and that tells you what I think of him” Keegan explained.

Keegan Dreams Of Mourinho Encounter Newcastle United's new boss Kevin Keegan says he would love to manage against José Mourinho in the Premiership

Newcastle United's new manager Kevin Keegan has admitted he'd love to see José Mourinho return to English football.

The Portuguese left Chelsea at the end of September and has since been out of work, while Keegan missed most of Mourinho's tenure in English football having himself been out in the management wilderness for almost three years.

But 11 years after his departure from Newcastle United the first time around, Keegan says he would relish the chance to go up against the Portuguese tactician.

Great Character

"I thought Mourinho was just fantastic," said the former England boss. "I thought he was a breath of fresh air. The sooner he comes back into the Premier League the better.

"You need the mix - the guys who are tacticians, and the guys who are characters, and the Premier League is a fantastic mix of managers."

Keegan 1-0 Mourinho

Keegan actually got the better of Mourinho in their only two encounters to date while boss of Manchester City. He was the only manager to inflict defeat upon Chelsea in the Blues' first title winning season, and also snatched a draw at Stamford Bridge.

Gullit Dismisses Keegan Return LA Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit believes the Toon boss will not make an impact in his second stint in charge.

“Newcastle are not a big club in the Premiership anymore.”

That’s the opinion of former Toon boss Ruud Gullit after watching Keegan’s speak to the press at St James’ Park on Friday.

Keegan, affectionately known as ‘King Kev’ on Tyneside, indicated his desire to bring success and attractive football to the club. The ex-England boss also spoke about Newcastle being amongst the elite clubs in the Premiership because of their tradition and history.

Gullit, however, disagrees. Instead, the former European and World Player of the Year believes that the Magpies are now a club closer to the relegation zone than the top six.

He has also laughed off Keegan’s return to St James’ Park as sheer media fanfare orchestrated by the Newcastle management to appease the fans. And, Gullit has criticised the expectations as ‘unrealistic’.

He said: "I think the expectations of the club are so incredibly high that maybe (they are) not realistic for the people who go to work there.

"If you think you can play and win immediately there that is not true."

Newcastle are currently lying in 12th place in the Premier League. Keegan has laid out his plans to transform the club to start challenging the top six, and the top four. But Gullit believes Keegan will not be able to achieve success within a short span of time.

"No. He won't do it," said the Dutchman emphatically. "It is not realistic to expect that.

"To be realistic, he needs to have the time to build a team that he thinks can maybe compete in the future compete. Maybe in the future. That must be his goal."

And why is that so?

"For the simple reason that the other clubs have a huge advantage because they have the best youngsters and the best players. And they will continue to," Gullit said.

"The most difficult part is they have to compete with teams that have had a much bigger attraction than Newcastle have had.

"Most big players, young players, go to Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, so this is the difficulty that you have to deal with.”

Gullit was in charge of Newcastle from 1998-1999 and guided them to an FA Cup final, before results turned sour and the fans turned against him.

Inspirational Keegan 'Will Have A Go' An inspirational Kevin Keegan insisted that he was the best man for the job, and promised fans that he would ha

Kevin Keegan was unveiled this afternoon as the new manager of Newcastle United and was in typically open, positive and inspirational mood, declaring that he believes he's the best qualified for the job because he knows it so well and knows what the fans want. And he confirmed that he would definitely be talking to Alan Shearer about taking a role at St James' Park.
Key points::

On his appointment -

* I am the best man for the job. Many others would be fazed by this, take a few months to just find out what this club is about. I have a head start.

On Alan Shearer -

* "I want to bring the very best to Newcastle United. If there is a role that Alan wants, and is right - that's the key - then I would love to have him back here. I will definitely be speaking to him."

On Michael Owen:

* Keegan insisted he would be able to work with Michael Owen, despite criticisms levelled at him by the striker in his autobiography. Keegan said: "I have heard about his book and he is entitled to his opinion and I'm looking forward to working with him."

On Attacking, Entertaining Football:

* I am not here to play out 1-0 wins and finish mid-way up the table. Fans want us to have a go, and that is what I am here for. We want to have a go.

* I sure hope players came here because they want to be here. Players here have not seen Newcastle United at its best. I think they will now.

On his time at Manchester City:

* Manchester City was not a failure. We did come up into the Premiership. Yes we had a difficult season and finished near the bottom, but the fact is that we stabilized the club.

* I was not sacked at Manchester City. The club wanted me to sign a five year contract, which I did not want to, so it was decided.

Kevin Keegan was very much in his comfort zone talking to the massed ranks of the press today at St James' Park. This was a man back in an environment he knows, doing a job that clearly inspires him, talking openly and enthusiastically about the challenge ahead that he is relishing.

After club chairman Chris Mort said he was "absolutely delighted" to present Keegan to the press, it straight down to answering questions for the new manager,

First he was asked to recount how the appointment came about. Keegan explained that the first contact from the club had been last Thursday, and that he's decided he'd like to meet owner Mike Ashley, who was over in the Far East at the time. "I waited for him to come back," said Keegan, "and I drove down from Glasgow where I'd been working and met Mike Ashley at 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning."

Keegan explained that after an hour's discussion it was all sorted. "It was a very easy deal for everybody," he said.

Of his own credentials for the job, Keegan said: "I know the club inside out, back to front, as a player and a manager. I know the club in terms of what the fans want. This is very special club - and that's what people outside the area don’t understand. I think I'm the best qualified person to come here to do this job, to be honest."

And he admitted that since he'd left Newcastle 11 years ago, whenever the job of manager at St James' Park had come up, he'd felt envious, thinking" "That could have been me."

He also explained that when he left in 1997, it was because he didn't think the club was going where he wanted it to go.

He stressed that he thinks he can do something for Newcastle, and that he has a head start on doing the job because he knows it, the fans and the region, so well. "This club doesn't scare me. The job ahead doesn't scare me."

Asked if he thought the players in the squad could cope with the weight of expectations, he cited the likes of Owen, Viduka, Smith, Butt, Given and Duff and stressed that they are big players who had come to play for a big club.

"This club shouldn't faze them. They haven't yet seen this club at its best."

Was having been out of the game for three years a disadvantage? Keegan felt that, on the contrary, the three years ("not a hundred!") out had probably helped him.

He said he was looking forward to working with Michael Owen and made it clear that he didn't have a problem with the England striker, notwithstanding Owen's criticisms of Keegan in his autobiography.

He said: "I have heard about his book. I don't have a problem with that. He is entitled to his opinion and I'm looking forward to working with him."

Of course, the question of a possible role for Alan Shearer was raised, and Keegan delighted the fans watching the press conference on screens in Shearer's Bar at the stadium by responding:

"I want to bring the very best to Newcastle United. If there is a role that Alan wants, and is right - that's the key - then I would love to have him back here. I will definitely be speaking to him, there is absolutely no doubt about that."

He prefaced those comments by stressing that he hadn't spoken to Shearer because since his appointment he had just concentrated solely on Saturday's game against Bolton. He had been meeting all the players and the club staff and been pleased to find the four people were still at the club from his first stint as manager.

He also put the record straight on his time as manager of Manchester City, reminding the press, who have tended to cast his City reign in a negative light.

He said he had stabilised City, earning them promotion and setting a host of club records along the way, then taking them to their highest position in the Premier League at that time. He explained that he had not been sacked, but agreed with chairman John Wardle to leave when he did because he was not going to sign a new contract, and Wardle felt - rightly in Keegan's view - that it was best for the club to part company and bring in Stuart Pearce.

Much has been made about Newcastle's fans and want they want. Keegan was keen to elaborate on a subject dear to his heart. He said: "I'm a great believer in looking at your customers and asking what do he fans want? That's what I want to give them."

He said that whereas people in the South go to the theatre to be entertained, Geordies go to St James' Park to be entertained by Newcastle United.

He said "They don't want us to play drably and win 1-0, they want us to have a go. And we will have a go."

He revealed that the thing that Mike Ashley said to him that most impressed him was when Keegan asked the owner what he wanted to achieve. "I want to win something," Ashley had replied.

And the manager emphasised that it is possible to win a cup and break into the top four. "We did it once before," he said of the top four target, and said they had nearly won the title in 1995-96.

"We can show it out on the pitch. We can do it with these players, with the backing of this board and with these fans," he said.

Mort added at that point: "We all want to win something - but we're not setting any public targets. That would not be fair on Kevin."

Keegan was asked about troubled midfielder Joey Barton, and acknowledged that he'd supported him before at Manchester City, and been let down, but pledged that while Barton was a Newcastle player, "I'll support him 100%. He's said he needs help and we'll help him. I know him [from their time at Manchester City]. He's an excellent player. He can improve."
Finally, Keegan also confirmed that his wife was "absolutely delighted" to be back in the North East.

Jenas: Keegan Return No Surprise Former Newcastle United player Jermaine Jenas says Kevin Keegan's return to St. James' Park didn't surprise him in t

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas has reflected on the appointment of Kevin Keegan as the new boss of Newcastle United.

Many were surprised at owner Mike Ashley's decision, but Jenas - a Magpies player for three years - says King Kev's return after eleven years didn't shock him at all.

"He was a fantastic player," the Spurs man told Sky Sports News. "I think it's fantastic for him to get back home and manage the club that he supported.

"It's fantastic I was lucky enough to play under their fans for a few years and I really enjoyed my time there," he added, suggesting that the Toon's new boss could be the man to restore the club's pride.

"Hopefully Kevin Keegan can bring back some of those glory days that were there when he was the manager before. It's such a big club and a big stadium. Everything's black and white in Newcastle and I think the fans show that."

Deschamps New Favourite For Toon Job

Currently working as technical director for France Football Federation, Houllier has re-affirmed his commitment to the organisation via a phone-call to his boss FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

"Gerard's word is enough for me. He works for us”, revealed Escalettes.

"I talked to Gerard by telephone - he is on business for us in the United States at the moment - and he told me 'every time an English club is in difficulty my name comes up'.

"Gerard had an extraordinary image in England, I'm flattered to hear his name all over the place, I tell myself we made the right choice, everyone wants to have him."

Although Houllier seems to be out of the running, another distinguished Frenchman, Didier Deschamps is the latest to be linked with the post.

Deschamps was a former World-Cup winning captain and Juventus legend as a player, but has enjoyed a mixed bag of success in his managerial career.

He led Monaco in a spirited journey to the Champions League final in 2004, but lost to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

The man infamously labelled as “the water carrier” by Eric Cantona then returned to Serie A giants Juventus as head-coach but quickly fell-out with the directors and left soon after.

Deschamps ticks many boxes that Magpies Chairman Chris Mort has outlined: He is experienced, ambitious, successful, but has yet to make a prolonged mark on any one club. Plus, he also speaks English, a prerequisite installed by the Newcastle hierarchy.

The former holding midfielder has already been installed as favourite for the post by some bookmakers.

Smith Receives Two-Match Ban Newcastle United forward Alan Smith has been given a two-match ban by the Football Association as punishment for his sen

Alan Smith will miss Newcastle United's next two matches following his red card in the closing seconds at Old Trafford at the weekend.

Smith was dismissed for dissent as frustratio got the better of him against his former club Manchester United, who completed a 6-0 drubbing of his current side, managerless Newcastle.

As a result, he will now miss the Magpies' FA Cup third-round replay against Stoke City on Wednesday and the Barclays Premier League fixture with Bolton Wanderers next weekend.

Another former Manchester United player, midfielder Nicky Butt, is also out of the Magpies' next two fixtures after picking up his 10th caution of the season in the Newcastle's original match against Stoke, which ended 0-0.

Hughes Rebuffs Toon Rumours Manager Mark Hughes has expressed pride in his position at Blackburn as rumours linking him with Newcastle have recently

Many names have been linked with the vacant position at St. James' Park since the unceramonious sacking of Sam Allardyce.

Alan Shearer has been the mainstay mentioned in the media, Harry Redknapp has done his utmost to rule himself out of the race, there is even speculation that Kevin Keegan could make a return to the club he did such great things with over a decade ago.

The latest name to become a front-runner with the odds-makers is Blackburn boss Hughes who, following his side's last-minute battling victory over Bolton this afternoon, has emphasised his happiness with his position with the Rovers.

"I have support from the chairman (John Williams) and the board. That is something you do not give up lightly," he said.

"The fact is I have continuity here and a good situation. Things are in place and I am very conscious of that.

"All I am trying to do is my job to the best of my ability with the help of my staff.

"I am not into self-promotion but speculation has surrounded me in the past.

"But I am still Blackburn manager and have a job to do here.

"In football you need time and I have been given that. I am proud to be manager of this club."

The victory over Bolton puts Blackburn in eighth place, with 36 points from 22 games.