Keegan insists he is top boss

Kevin Keegan has insisted that despite the appointment of Dennis Wise as Executive Director he is the main man in command.

"I am all for the changes and I approve of them. They want someone on the board who understands football, and Dennis understands football very well.

"It will work very well. Dennis reports to me - the chain is established," said Keegan.

Magpies chairman Chris Mort has stressed that Wise will have no involvement in the day to day running of the squad, but will in fact just have a role in player recruitment and the development of the academy.

Keegan said: "The club has become slightly fragmented. From my point of view, it's a positive thing - provided I get all the help I need.

I know Dennis. I know he's intelligent. I know his job here is to help me. He's on my side

"I know what Dennis is going to do, and the idea in principle is good - to look for new players, to bring youngsters through and do things which our academy isn't doing so much at the moment"