NEW Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan has let slip he was first approached by the club on Sunday - 24 hours before Joe Royle was sacked.

City claim they did not contact Keegan until after they had dismissed Royle on Monday morning.

However Keegan has revealed he was first sounded out by his friend and City's football director Dennis Tueart on Sunday.

Keegan said: ''I had a phone call on Sunday just to see if I would be in any way interested.

''I was approached on Monday and by Tuesday afternoon everything was sorted.''

Tueart confirmed this when he said: ''We decided over Sunday and I put in a call to Kevin to gauge the depth of interest.''

City chairman David Bernstein tried to cover up this faux pas and insisted the club did not act until Royle had left Maine Road.

''The first serious discussions took place on Monday,'' he said. ''We sent a team of people up on Tuesday. I was on the phone to him constantly on Tuesday and Wednesday and by Wednesday night we had a deal.''

The Blues have not broken any rules and Keegan has been out of the game since he quit as England manager in October, but their premature approach could leave a sour taste in the mouths of some.

Royle has always been great friends with Keegan and there are some who may feel he deserved to be treated with a little more respect.

City, though, were determined not to let anything detract from what they feel is a great day for the club.

Keegan was cheered by ecstatic fans outside Maine Road as he did a walkabout any politician would have been proud of.

After patiently giving countless interviews for two hours, Keegan then attended a pre-arranged 'fans forum'.

These supporters were clearly not bothered by Keegan's failure as England coach and they firmly believe he can lead the newly-relegated club back to the Premiership at the first attempt. That is also Keegan's goal and he talked about making City one of the top five or six clubs in the land.

The 50-year-old claims he turned down several offers before agreeing to sign a five-year contract to become City's ninth manager in 12 years.

Keegan described City as a ''sleeping giant'' and drew parallels with Newcastle when he took over at St James' Park in 1992.

He also claimed he is better suited to managing at club level as compared to international level.

''I really enjoy club management,'' he said. ''I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the England job because I enjoyed every minute of it.

''But my skills and what I'm about are better suited to club management and working with all parts of the club. Hopefully I can build a successful outfit that people will really want to be part of and I think that's my strength.

''I think I've already proved that twice at league level at Newcastle and Fulham and I'm pretty confident that given that bit of luck everyone needs, I'm pretty sure we can do it here.''

Keegan claimed he wanted Royle's former assistant Willie Donachie to remain and the Scot has still to decide if he will stay at Maine Road. He also insisted he was unconcerned by reports of a drinking culture at the club, claiming he was only interested in the future.

''I don't care what happened before,'' he said. ''It's a new club for the players. What's gone has gone and I don't know anything about that.

''I do know one thing, that in the future we will be looking to do everything we can to achieve success.''

Bernstein hopes Keegan's arrival will be the start of a golden era for the club, coupled with the move to the new stadium in 2003.

''He has signed a five-year contract, which takes us into our new stadium,'' he said. ''We're looking forward to playing Premiership football in the City of Manchester Stadium and Kevin inspiring our club to the success our supporters so richly deserve.'