DENNIS Wise has already been installed as the favourite to become the next Newcastle United manager amid hardening suggestions that Kevin Keegan has left the club.

Keegan is understood to have parted company with the Magpies after a series of talks with owner Mike Ashley and his associates resulted in a heated argument over the future direction of the club.

Keegan was angry at the sale of James Milner and yesterday's attempts to sell Joey Barton, and was not placated by the deadline-day arrival of Xisco and Nacho Gonzalez.

Assistant Editor, Nigel Burton, talks to Chief Sports Writer, Scott Wilson, about the ongoing speculation that Kevin Keegan has left Newcastle United after an eight-month spell as manager.

A range of sources are claiming that Keegan decided to resign late last night, and while further talks were held this morning, the former England boss is not believed to have changed his mind.

However, Newcastle officials have so far failed to make an official statement on the ongoing situation.

Supporters of the club are currently gathering at St James' Park, with Wise already trading as a 2-1 favourite in most bookmakers' markets on the identity of Newcastle's next boss.

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