Keegan Has Faith In Ashley ... But He Won't Turn His Back!

The sporting goods magnate, who took control of the club in June 2007, has had a torrid first year in charge, but many suggest he only has himself to blame.

Chairman Chris Mort soon bailed out after it became clear - after only a few weeks - that the job was too much for him.

And Ashley has yet to convince at least half the foot-soldiers of the Toon Army that he is any better at this "soccer lark".

But Ashley has the backing of Keegan ... but I'm sure the Messiah won't be turning his back.

Keegan: "The owner has come out and said in his own words how he sees the club and where he is with the club and that was a good thing to do because it stopped all this talk of 'well, he is thinking of selling'.

"What he's saying - and I agree with him wholeheartedly - is that if we could get two or three more people like him on board, we could do this quicker.

"We could get where we want to be, with the finances we could get, and try and get this club back in that top four. That is the aim of everyone. Clubs used to try and win the title, now it's about trying to get in the top four.

"We all understand our roles. We all understand what each other briefs are and what each of us brings to the club, and that is a good thing. That's 100 per cent.

"Six or seven guys in a room talking about football, you are never ever going to agree on everything, but the important thing is when we don't agree, it stays in the room.

"We are very much united as far as I am concerned. I am sure if you ask Dennis Wise [the executive director], Tony Jimenez [the vice-president], Jeff Vetere [the technical co-ordinator], Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias [the managing director], they would say the same thing, because that is the truth.

"We are really looking to do the right things. I do not think we have ever been closer than we are now."