City insist Keegan will see out contract

MANCHESTER CITY insisted last night that manager Kevin Keegan will see out his contract, which still has 19 months to run.

Keegan stated earlier yesterday that the end of his managerial career in England was in sight.

The Manchester City manager may eventually be tempted to move abroad but he said: “I am coming to the end of my time as a manager in this country. Maybe there will be something somewhere else for me in the future. But you never know. I have enjoyed every minute of it (my career).”

However, City officials said Keegan was not planning to depart before the end of his current contract.

“Kevin Keegan has made it abundantly clear he will see out the remaining 19 months of his contract at City, which finishes at the end of the 2005-06 season,” City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said.

“Nothing has changed.”

Keegan arrived at City after a spell as England coach. He was also in charge at Newcastle - where the title was almost secured - and Fulham.

Known as one of football’s great romantics, he said: “If someone said you can pick a team that is going to bore the pants off everyone but is going to finish in the top six, I would say thanks very much but find someone else. There are loads of people like that around but it is not a job for me.”