Mike Ashley exclusive: 'Kevin Keegan knew the Newcastle score from the start'

Mike Ashley went to war with Kevin Keegan last night - and immediately scored an embarrassing own goal.

The Newcastle United owner decided he'd had enough of being the target for incessant flak from fans and media critics and authorised the release of an official club statement.

In the attack on Keegan, Ashley defended his board's conduct towards the Geordie hero.

And Newcastle made it clear that, in their opinion, Keegan's frustration at having to work with players he did not want at the club was a smokescreen.

In fact, the club statement claimed Keegan had accepted he had no say in player recruitment or sales.

However, that contradicts Ashley's own words in an interview with Newcastle's official magazine this month in which he said Keegan had to be happy with the players the club signed.

In yesterday's point-by-point dissection of the Keegan row the club claimed: "It is a fact that Kevin Keegan, on appointment on 16th January 2008, agreed to report to a director of football and to the board.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan worked within that structure from 16th January 2008 until his resignation.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan, as manager, had specific duties in that he was responsible for the training, coaching, selection and motivation of the team.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan was allowed to manage his specific duties without any interference from any board member.

"It is a fact that Kevin Keegan agreed only to deal with the media in relation to club matters relating to the team and not to communicate with the media in relation to the acquisition or disposal of players. It is a fact that NUFC is a business and operates, like all businesses, with financial constraints.

"It is a fact that NUFC's financial constraints form its transfer dealings."

"The board of NUFC have responsibility to ensure that the club is able to meet its commitments which include the wages and the transfer fees for players.

"The structure at NUFC is clear, and has been clear from 16th January 2008."

But Keegan said last night: "At the time I joined Newcastle it was made clear to me I had control of player movement in and out of the club."

When he resigned last Thursday, after just eight months in charge, Keegan said: "It's my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want."

The club statement was clearly aimed at putting down a marker for any future legal battle over Keegan's claim for compensation. Yet in his magazine interview Ashley said: "If the deal is right - and that means the right player who Kevin wants - then we will do that deal. Kevin is very particular on who he wants."

Dennis Wise's role as director of football has seen him marked down as a hate figure by many Toon fans. And in February Wise told the local newspaper: "I am here to help Kevin as much as possible with bringing young players through and also recommending certain players to him.

"He will say yes or no. He has the final word. No one else.

"I am not going to do things like bring players in behind his back. I am not into that.

"Everything that happens will be run past him and he will say yes or no."