Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet are favourites to take over at Newcastle after Kevin Keegan was sensationally sacked by the club this morning.
Following an explosive meeting at the club yesterday, owner Mike Ashley has decided to end Keegan's eight-month reign as club manager.
The pair are understood to have clashed over the club's transfer policy and the decision to try and sell controversial midfielder Joey Barton. After announcing the sale of England Under 21 captain James Milner last week, Keegan called on Newcastle supporters to judge him and the club after the closure of the transfer window.
Yesterday the club signed Uruguay international Ignacio Gonzalez and Spanish striker Xisco, two more deals from La Liga which are the handiwork of Wise and fellow director Tony Jimenez.
It is believed Keegan has not seen either player play.
And before that, Barton was in talks with a top 10 Premier League club, believed to be Portsmouth, but the moved collapsed yesterday afternoon.
The Newcastle manager had already caused concern in the boardroom with his unequivocal support for Barton, who returned to the Newcastle bench on Saturday after serving a six-month prison sentence for assault.
Ashley wanted to sack Barton while he was in prison and reduce his £85,000-a-week wages.
Keegan, 57, who walked away from his post as Newcastle boss in 1997 before returning for a second spell after Sam Allardyce's reign, has endured rather than enjoyed an acrimonious relationship with Ashley and the Newcastle board since he was asked to take over from Sam Allardyce in January.
updated BTD
