KK has Toon terms

Former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan will only return to the club if he is in charge of transfer dealings, the LMA has hinted.

Keegan left the Magpies in September after becoming disillusioned with the structure put in place by owner Mike Ashley, who has since put the club up for sale.

And while League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan claims Keegan did not want to leave in the first place, he admits the former England coach would need assurances from prospective new owners in order to take charge for a third time.

"Numerous people, including a group of Newcastle supporters, have contacted Kevin and myself saying, 'would he be interested in coming back?'" Bevan told The Sun.

"Kevin didn't want to leave. He has a great passion for the club. But the structure has to be right. He doesn't want to go through that again. Kevin can't make any decision until the club has been sold."

Keegan only made his second coming at St James' Park in January but quickly saw Dennis Wise and Tony Jiminez installed as executive director (football) and vice president of player recruitment respectively, although the latter left his position last week.