Concern rises in Owen saga

May 6 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan admits he is disappointed the club have yet to agree a new contract with striker Michael Owen – but the Newcastle manager is confident owner Mike Ashley will provide the resources to help him challenge for a place in Europe next season.

It is almost a month since Keegan publicly stated that securing Owen would be the most important signing the club could make this summer.

But despite indications from the England striker he would react positively to overtures from the club, there has still been little movement from the board.

In his column in the Newcastle programme for yesterday’s game against Chelsea, Owen admitted there has been no contact from the United board with his advisers, something Keegan says is a matter for concern.

However, while he would like to see progress on that front, Keegan does not believe his comments about not being able to offer him Champions League football in the foreseeable future will affect his star striker’s decision on whether to sign any new deal.

“Six weeks ago I asked the club to tie him up, it’s not happened yet,” said Keegan. “It’s disappointing but it’s not the end of the world. I’ve not told Michael in the six weeks I’ve been talking to him about staying that if he stays here he’ll get Champions League football or we’ll win the Premier League.

“I’m not misleading anyone there. If we finish fifth it’d be a massive achievement considering where we are now.”

A passionate Keegan was in animated mood after the 2-0 defeat, promising not to deceive the Newcastle supporters about where they could be realistically challenging next season.

He had earlier raised eyebrows with comments in a television interview that he would not be given enough money to make a concerted challenge for the top four. But he sought to clarify that point by asserting that – regardless of the funds available – he would not be able to assemble a team to compete with the top-flight’s elite quartet.

“I didn’t say I hadn’t got any money to spend this summer, I said I haven’t got enough to make up that gap to the top four,” he said.

“I think Mike Ashley will support me. I don’t think there will be a problem there, but the problem might be getting the players. I get on great with the owner because I never talk to him,” Keegan joked. “That’s better than some managers at the moment! No communication is good now!

“But however much money he gives me the biggest challenge is getting players to come to you when they’ve got three or four alternatives. And if they’re really good players they will have three or four alternatives.”

Keegan is preparing for a summer of transfer activity when he hopes to bring in a minimum of four players to strengthen his squad in preparation for a tilt at European qualification. But, stung by the Luka Modric transfer saga – in which he lost out to Tottenham in his attempt to sign the Croatia star – Keegan is realistic about United’s transfer remit and accepts that they are not in a position to compete with Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool on or off the pitch yet.

That represents Keegan beginning to douse some of the optimism that has been built up by his team’s strong finish to the Premier League season, which has already prompted some to draw comparisons with his first spell as manager at St James’s when he did mount an effective challenge at the top.

“Even if someone gives you a barrel-load of money you have to be honest and say you’re not going to get the best players. There’s a pecking order,” he said. “If I’m a player and I get the option to go to Chelsea or Newcastle, the Press would slaughter me, asking where my ambition was (if I chose Newcastle).

“All the great players will go for where the honours are and if they don’t make it there they’ll drop to a Newcastle.”