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.