Newcastle United have denied that manager Kevin Keegan had been sacked and say the English Premier League football club want him to remain in his job.
Media reports had claimed both that Keegan had been dismissed, and that he had resigned in the wake of meetings held following the club's failure to make any major signings before yesterday's closure of the transfer window.
But Newcastle said in the statement on their website: "Newcastle United can confirm that meetings between members of the board and manager Kevin Keegan were held both yesterday and today and that he remains a a part of their long term strategy.
Angry supporters had gathered at the club's St James' Park stadium and chanted "sack the board" as they voiced their dissatisfaction at reports Keegan was to be sacked less than eight months after his high-profile return to Tyneside.
The former England and Manchester City boss, who managed the club from 1992 to 1997, delighted fans by returning for a second time to St James' Park in January to replace the sacked Sam Allardyce.
The club is 11th in the table with just four points from their opening three games.
