All is rosy in Newcastle garden
by Tom Kell, 09 May 2008
Kevin Keegan’s revelation that he has all but given up on guiding Newcastle into the top four next season does not look to have hindered his relationship with owner Mike Ashley after the pair held ‘constructive’ talks on Friday.
Keegan this week claimed that Champions League qualification is a closed shop and that fifth was the best his side could hope for.
The Newcastle faithful who greeted Keegan’s return to St James’ Park in triumphant fashion are likely to have been taken aback by his comments, while Ashley was thought to be disappointed at his manager’s admission.
However, the pair met alongside chairman Chris Mort in London on Friday and it appears that plans for the future continue to progress swimmingly.
"It was a good meeting. It was both productive and constructive,” said Mort in the briefest of statements.
While the club have not yet disclosed to what extent they will back Keegan in the summer, the former England boss remains convinced he can at least guide his side to the top of the ‘best of the best’ mini league and into fifth spot.
"That's our main target next year and that's a very good target to set ourselves from where we are at the moment,” he said.
Although Keegan’s outburst this week was viewed as uncharacteristically pessimistic in some quarters, he insists he was merely wearing his heart on his sleeve as he always has done.
"I will continue to do what I have always done while I have been manager of Newcastle United, and at Manchester City and at Fulham and with England. I haven't changed," he added.
"I am not scared of saying what I think the situation is, and I won't change that."