Kevin Keegan gave Newcastle fans hope of a shock return to the English Premier League club on Friday by reportedly holding talks with owner Mike Ashley one week after quitting. Keegan walked out on the Magpies on Sept. 4 - seven months after returning for a second stint in charge - blaming his lack of influence over transfers and interference from above at St. James Park. As police were bracing themselves for demonstrations outside the ground on Saturday when Newcastle hosts Hull, Sky Sports and The Sun reported that Keegan and Ashley met in London. “However, the discussion failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion,” the League Managers Association said in a statement. Ashley was in the United States last week when Keegan held crisis talks with the Newcastle board to try to resolve his grievances. Keegan replaced Sam Allardyce, who was fired in January, but became disgruntled at the influence of director of football Dennis Wise. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Friday backed Keegan along with Alan Curbishley, who quit West Ham last week also due to his authority being undermined. “They both did the right thing resigning,” said Ferguson, who has managed United since 1986.
