Joe Kinnear still ‘keeping the seat warm’ for Geordie Messiah

Press reports today are saying that Kevin Keegan has met with three separate consortiums (consortia?) bidding to take Newcastle Utd away from the evil cockney mafia, all of whom are interested in re-installing him as boss.

A South African group are waiting to have £280m in staged payments accepted, while the Nigerians have offered to put £200m upfront. There is also a third unnamed consortium, who could possibly be the group of Brits currently sniffing around White Hart Lane.

A completely made-up source friend of Keegan’s told The Sun:

“Kevin’s return as manager is a key issue for some of the bidders.

“They want Kevin to be back in charge otherwise they might not continue their interest.”

KK’s return to St James’ Park might not be as smooth as the report suggests, however, as he will not drop the ongoing £8m constructive dismissal battle with the club.

Two buyers lined up for top flight’s worst performing club

No one needs to remind Spurs that their season-opening form is their worst in over half a century (although it’s quite funny to do so), but their strength on the pitch is far exceeded by their strength in the financial market: the club are said to be close to selling up to one of two buyers, who are interested taking over the profitable and successful business chairman Daniel Levy has created.

The club constantly deny a sale is on the cards, but today’s Guardian says a billionaire from the Far East could take the reins by the end of the week if a reasonable price is agreed and ’super-agent’ Pini Zahavi can broker a deal.

BBC columnist Mihir Bose reports that Levy and the board believe an acceptable price would be around £400m, and that a British consortium is also in the running.

Joe Lewis, owner of 82 per cent of the club, lost around £400m when Bear Stearns went down the pan, and may be looking to recoup the loss by selling. He shouldn’t find the task as difficult as the one Mike Ashley faces,