Punters pile in with Keegan back on the brink

Kevin Keegan is reportedly on the verge of leaving Newcastle after missing training today to hold talks with the board.

Speculation in the north east is rife that the 57-year-old could walk out on the club after rumours that Joey Barton was set to be sold without his agreement on transfer deadline day.

The deal did not happen and Newcastle's only business was to pay £5.7m for Spanish striker Xisco and secure the loan signing of midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez from Valencia.

However, Keegan was not at training on Tuesday morning and with his track record of walking out in the past, Newcastle fans feared the worst as others took advantage of the £25 free bet to back that there was going to be a Managerial Change at St James' Park.

Keegan quit Newcastle after five glorious seasons in charge on January 7, 1997 and then walked out of the England job following a World Cup qualifying defeat to Germany in 2000.

He returned to St James' Park in a blaze of glory in January 2008, but has struggled to attract the signings he wanted and has instead seen the club's transfer policy influenced by Executive Director (Football) Dennis Wise and Vice President (Player Recruitment) Tony Jimenez.