Keegan ponders Magpies move
BLACKBURN insist Newcastle have not contacted them about an approach for Mark Hughes - opening the way for Kevin Keegan to make a sensational return to St James' Park.
Hughes, the former Wales boss, remains the bookmakers' favourite to replace Sam Allardyce as United manager following Sunday's refusal to rule himself out of the running.
But with Rovers chairman John Williams last night insisting, "We have had no contact from Newcastle whatsoever", Keegan's side-stepping of questions regarding his immediate future will have raised hopes of a second coming for a man many on Tyneside still regard as the messiah.
For the former Magpies boss, who led the club through the most uplifting period of its modern history in his spell in charge from 1992-97, it appears the lure of the north east remains strong.
When asked outright whether he would welcome an approach from club owner Mike Ashley, he told Sky Sports News: "I really don't know, you're asking a lot of questions I can't really answer.
"I'm not ruling myself out or in or anything.
"It's a club I love, that's what I am prepared to say, everyone knows that, and it's a club I've managed before."
That Keegan, still only 56 years old, is even willing to entertain the idea of taking the reins at St James' shows the depth of his feeling for the club.
Just three months ago he appeared to rule out his ever returning to top-flight management, saying: "I don't think it will happen.
"I think my life has gone in a different direction.
"You never know, I mean I do get offers to go back into football, but I made a decision that I would come and do something different with my life."
Less-than-successful spells with England and Manchester City appeared to have doused Keegan's passion for management, but it looks increasingly likely that an approach from the United hierarchy could be the spark to rekindle his fire.
Whether his appointment would be alongside or instead of Alan Shearer remains a mystery, although with neither man yet to rule themselves out of the equation, fans' hopes of a Geordie-legend double act remain intact.
By bringing in Keegan alongside their record goalscorer, the Newcastle board would make good on their vow to bring in an experienced head, while also allowing them to benefit from the feelgood factor Shearer's arrival would generate.
With first choice Harry Redknapp having already chosen to stay at Portsmouth, Hughes, Keegan and Shearer appear to head an ever-decreasing list of possible candidates.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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