Newcastle United Football Club

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52193

Kinnear targets instant impact

27 Sep 2008 - 10:22:02

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Newcastle United's interim manager Joe Kinnear insists he is up for the challenge of lifting the club away from the relegation zone during his short spell in charge on Tyneside.

Kinnear has been drafted in by current owner Mike Ashley, but will be replaced when the club is sold on, with the 61-year-old expecting to leave in a month's time.

Kinnear told talkSPORT: "I'm not scared of a fight. I'm going in with my eyes open and if I do have a successful spell, then you don't know where it will lead.

"I'm not daft enough not to know that they have tried everyone else and everybody else has turned their back on it.

"What I intend to do is make an instant improvement at the club. After that, of course, I know that I won't be there.

"Mr Ashley made it quite clear that he hopes to have the club sold by the beginning of October. I worked it out that I would be in charge for between six and eight games.

"I'm well aware of the situation. Good luck to Kevin Keegan if he's coming back in. He's the fans' choice and you know what the fans are like, they call the tune in many respects.

"I just hope they realise I'm in there doing the best I can.

"I have good experience of the game and I have never been one to back down from a challenge and this is a big one."