IS KEEGAN REALLY ON THE BRINK AT NEWCASTLE?

Kevin Keegan has, once again, been described as being 'on the brink' of walking out of Newcastle United.

In a strange - and, it has to be said, rather unconvincing - backpage lead, The Daily Mail claims that the Toon boss is at 'breaking point' and depicts him as being at the end of his tether over behind-the-scene machinations at St James' Park.

'Keegan, according to sources close to him, only sees conspiracy amid the apparent chaos behind the scenes and has convinced himself his days are numbered,' the newspaper declares. 'Keegan is renowned for his public outbursts but Monday's thinly-veiled attack on owner Mike Ashley and the club board was something he had been planning for six weeks.'

After the defeat by Chelsea on Monday, Keegan told reporters he had a great relationship with Ashley because he 'never' talks to him. Yet there seems little reason to believe that Keegan is on the verge of quitting. The only quote provided in the Mail's report is a Newcastle spokesman denouncing their story as "inaccurate" and advising, "anyone reading it should attach no credence to it whatsoever."

However, The Mail may be on surer ground in depicting player recruitment as a 'particular problem' for a frustrated Keegan.

'He thinks executive director Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez, who is the new vice-president with responsibility for player recruitment, are making decisions without even consulting him and do not share his philosophy on players. While Keegan wants to bring in established internationals like Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright- Phillips, Wise and Jimenez are said to be scouting for so far undiscovered players who will grow in value once they come to the club.

'They want to bring in a new striker, when Keegan considers it more prudent to secure Owen on a long-term contract and he is becoming increasingly angered by the club's apparent apathy when it comes to extending the England forward's current deal.'

The story's credibility is thus further weakened by the disclosure in The Times - the newspaper for which Owen writes a column - that the club have heeded Keegan's warning and will commence negotiations over a new contract with the England striker next week.