Kinnear Happy To Work With Dennis Wise!

Kevin Keegan quit the club earlier in the season over the transfer policy headed by Wise, but if ever there was a show that Kinnear is Ashley's puppet ... this must be it.

Keegan refused to sell top players but Ashley (with Wise's approval) went ahead without his consent, and new signings (picked by Wise) were imposed on him.

Everyone from Les Ferdinand to Malcolm Macdonald; Alan Shearer to Sir Bobby Robson; said Keegan was right to 'walk the walk' ... but obviously Kinnear is happy to bite his tongue and go along with it.

Kinnear: "I spoke to Dennis last week.

"I didn't think when I first took the job that I would be here this long to be honest.

"At the time it was clear they had somebody who was going to buy the club within eight weeks, so we didn't get down to talking about finances and stuff for players.

"But now, because it seems the club won't be sold until after Christmas, I've got my eye on two or three players that we need.

"I've identified them and Dennis has been given the task of going out and getting them, provided we get the finance.

"Dennis has also been given the task of removing some of the players that I feel are not good enough for the club.

"Mike has told me to keep the money I get for selling any players and invest it back into the team. I am to work on the assumption that if there is somebody I desperately want, then it is possible he would put his hand in his pocket, providing the sale of the club is not imminent at the time."