Ashley And Wise Put Keegan In His Place!
Last updated : 30 August 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
Kevin Keegan said that Milner was the "last player Newcastle United want to sell" ... but at that summit meeting on Wednesday, Wise and Mike Ashley over-ruled the Toon boss.
Keegan expects a backlash from fans, but has asked Newcastle United supporters to reserve their judgment after James Milner's £12 million move to Aston Villa.
Keegan's squad so threadbare the team that plays at Arsenal later today could simply be those that are fit enough to take the field.
To make matters worse, Ashley seems to be expecting a bid from Spurs for Michael Owen this weekend, and has halted contract talks with the player until AFTER the transfer window closes.
And the same goes for Steve Harper, so it seems he ios expecting a late bid ... and Liverpool were interested earlier in the summer.
Owen's deal has one season to run and according to reports, the England striker has been offered a one-year contract worth £85,000 a week, which would represent an annual pay cut of £1.5 million. Keegan said yesterday that no player is "untouchable".
Kevin Keegan: "Sometimes you just get to a point where you sit down and say, 'Yeah, it's the right time to do this deal.
"You could argue that the clock on the wall, with the deadline three days away, makes it a bit more tricky, but I am pretty confident that we can overcome \ loss.
"It's a win-win. James has got a fantastic move to a club that he knows, because he's been on loan there, and we've got some more money in the pot. So in the short term it looks: 'Wow, why have they done that?' But over a period of time it might be: 'That's why.' We have got to get three or four players in and I am confident we will do that. But I'll be judged on Monday at 12 o'clock.
"Although I am really disappointed to lose James, we can make a plus out of this. We can maybe slightly go in a different direction."
JAMES MILNER:
1986: Born on January 4 in Horsforth, near Leeds.
2001: August 1 - Joins Leeds as trainee.
2002: Plays for England Under-17s in summer tournament, impressing Elland Road club enough to earn a move into the ranks of senior football in the following season.
November - Makes full debut as substitute at West Ham, becoming second youngest player ever to play in Premiership behind Coventry's Gary McSheffrey.
At 16 years and 309 days is also second youngest ever player at Elland Road behind Leeds legend Peter Lorimer who was 15 years and 289 days when he made his debut against Southampton in September, 1962.
December - Breaks Wayne Rooney's record as youngest Premiership scorer by four days when he secures in win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light at the age of 16 years and 357 days.
2003: September - Joins Swindon on loan for a month, scoring twice in six appearances.
November 29 - Scores in Leeds' 1-0 win over Charlton at The Valley to end a run of six successive defeats.
2004: May - Suffers relegation from the Premiership after Leeds finish second from bottom.
May 12 - Denies asking board for a new deal as speculation over a move from Elland Road grows.
May 13 - Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner claims Milner is the future of Leeds despite player being linked with £5million move to Spurs, as Milner again reiterates his desire to stay with his hometown club.
June 4 - Set for talks with Elland Road bosses on new contract.
June 29 - Mick McGuire, acting as Milner's agent through the PFA, denies a new contract and a 100% pay rise has been rejected.
July 2 - Milner signs five-year contract at Newcastle in a deal that could be worth up to £5million for Leeds.
2005: August 31 - Joins Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the 2005-06 season.
2006: February 2 - Then Villa chairman Doug Ellis opens talks with counterpart Freddy Shepherd over a potential deal for the winger.
May 8 - Milner returns to Newcastle after a proposed £3million deal between the two clubs breaks down.
2007: May - Ends the season having made 53 appearances.
July 12 - Pens a new four-year deal that keeps him contracted to the club until 2011.
August 27 - Newcastle confirm Milner has handed in a transfer request.
August 29 - Signs a four-year deal with Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £10million.
