Chris Waddle: Don't hound Kevin Keegan out of Newcastle job

Chris Waddle last night admitted his fears that Kevin Keegan could be forced out of the Newcastle hot-seat by the demands being placed on him.

Keegan's return as the Tyneside "Messiah" in January became more of a torture before the Geordies finally pulled themselves out of the relegation quagmire.

But the hierarchy above him, with the manager seemingly answerable to executive director Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez, and continued talk of a possible takeover, has added to the feeling of a club on the point of crisis.

And with Keegan having put the cat among the pigeons with his admission that the team he has inherited is incapable of even making the top four, former Newcastle star Waddle believes the St James' Park boss might walk away again if he is asked to do too much.

New Setanta Sports analyst Waddle said: "Newcastle aren't going to challenge this season and the problem is everything is up in the sky.

"They're not going to threaten the top four, nowhere near.

"He needs his big strikers fit - Viduka, Martins and Owen - and if they are they should finish comfortably in the league.

"But if they're not 100 per cent fit, he needs four or five players just to challenge the teams outside the top four."

Waddle, a team-mate of Keegan under Arthur Cox as the Toon returned to the big-time in 1984, added: "Kevin will give it a good go and he'll know more than most people about what is happening.

"But if he thinks there's no light at the end of the tunnel and he's banging his head against a brick wall, he'll say so.

"Kevin is the sort of guy who will turn round to the club and say, 'If you want top-six football, then I can't do it for you'. He's honest enough to do that.

"There's a lot to be done. Kevin knows what's required and if he's given the opportunity he will bring it back.

"It's about luring players and if you've got money available that changes it."

And Waddle feels the complicated structure under owner Mike Ashley does not help. "It's a strange set-up there," he said.

"Has Kevin got a say in who he buys? There's only Kevin who can answer that question.

"I think the Newcastle fans would like to see something happen because they're all concerned over what's happened in pre-season.

"They haven't been scoring goals and they need Owen and Viduka fit. There is a lot of concern up there and they need to get off to a decent start."

Ashley has sanctioned the signing of Fabrizio Collocini from Deportivo La Coruna, for £9.1million rising to over £10m - a record for a United defender.

The transfer was finally confirmed yesterday by the Spanish club, but Alan Smith's move to Everton has stalled because the Merseysiders cannot match his £60,000-a-week wages.

The former England striker is surplus to Keegan's requirements, but Smith has a £12m, four-year contract at St James' Park.

That will mean Smith requires a hefty pay-off from Ashley at a time he is trying to cut costs - and the pay off could eat up the proposed £3m transfer fee leaving Keegan a man down and with no extra cash to invest.

Both Newcastle and Everton will have to give ground if the deal is to be resurrected.

Smith has not got a clue where the latest behind-the-scenes wrangles will leave him come the end of August after first being told he was on the way, then staying on Tyneside.

For transfer stories and rumours throughout the day, check out our Football Spy blog

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