Keegan confirms Ashley talks
08 May 2008 - 13:15:53
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- Keegan confirms Ashley talks
Kevin Keegan has confirmed he has been summoned to a meeting with owner Mike Ashley to discuss his recent comments concerning Newcastle United's chances of breaking into the top four.
The Magpies boss was forced to move his pre-match press conference forward 24 hours to Thursday after being told he must travel to London to hold talks with Ashley and executive (football) director Dennis Wise.
Newcastle will finish their season with a trip to Everton on Sunday, but Ashley is believed to be unhappy after Keegan claimed his side had no chance of breaking into the top four of the Premier League in the near future.
"The reason we have fetched the press conference a day early is that I am going to London tomorrow to talk with Mike Ashley. That's a good thing and I will look forward to that," he revealed.
"That's the only comment that really I am going to make on anything to do with that today, because this is a pre-match conference for the game against Everton.
"Any other questions, they'll save for another day and I will try on that day, whenever it is, to answer them as honestly as I can."
Speaking after the Bank Holiday Monday defeat to Chelsea at St James' Park, Keegan admitted that next season that his side would only be able to finish as high as fifth, so dominant are Manchester United, Avram Grant's side, Arsenal and Liverpool .
He said: "The top four this year will be the top four next year. I want to tell the Newcastle fans that we want to get fifth. We will be trying to win the other league that's going on.
"It's just the truth. I'm not disappointed. Being back in now underlines what I thought.
"Even if someone gives you a barrel of money, you have got to be honest and say you are not going to get the very best players.
"If we can get to fifth, it will be a massive achievement for this club. And it's very, very exciting to finish fifth."
Meanwhile, Keegan also revealed that Mark Viduka will be out for "three-to-six months" after aggravating an existing Achilles injury against Chelsea.