Kevin Keegan is standing firm ... according to reports, Keegan has told Ashley that if Wise is dismissed he will stay at St James' Park.

Keegan's eight-month reign seems to be over unless Mike Ashley gets his backroom staff sorted.

Keegan has not been seen at the training ground in days now and is believed to have been pushed to the brink after discovering his directors were trying to sell off Michael Owen and Joey Barton behind his back.

Further reports suggest the entire first team was put up for sale over the summer, and the two players who were brought in - Xisco and Ignacio Gonzalez - were done so without Keegan's permission.

Having felt completely undermined, it is thought Keegan has threatened to leave if his demands are not met.

Top of his list of priorities are for Wise to be paid off, for vice-president Tony Jimenez to be dismissed and for the manager to be handed control of all transfers, in and out, as well as responsibility for negotiating contracts.