Kevin Keegan's meeting with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley ends without "satisfactory conclusion"

Kevin Keegan and Mike Ashley held talks on Friday night - but were unable to reach agreement on the "several issues" being discussed.

The odds on Keegan becoming the next manager of Newcastle had plunged after news of the meeting filtered out.

Tyneside favourite Keegan resigned last week, blasting the club for signing players without his say-so, sparking huge unrest among the Magpies faithful.

Blackburn manager Paul Ince and Tottenham assistant Gus Poyet have both been linked with taking over the St James' Park hotseat.

But with Keegan and Ashley spending two hours in talks in London on Friday, there was growing speculation about a third coming for the man known as the Messiah on Tyneside.

The odds on him being his own successor tumbled from 7-1 to evens, with some bookmakers suspending betting while they waited to see what emerged from the first meeting between Keegan and Ashley since the manager's resignation.

With Ashley's name mud among Newcastle fans since Keegan's departure, a reconciliation would surely be welcomed by supporters.

But the League Managers Association later released a statement saying: "We can confirm talks to resolve several issues were held today between Kevin Keegan and Mike Ashley.

"However, the discussions failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion."

No further talks are believed to be planned at present.

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