Wise deal will not affect Kev

NEWCASTLE chairman Chris Mort insists manager Kevin Keegan will not be undermined by Dennis Wise’s arrival on Tyneside.

Mort confirmed yesterday that 41-year-old Wise has agreed to take up the role of executive director (football) at St James’ Park as the Magpies made three senior appointments.

Businessman Tony Jimenez and former Real Madrid international scout Jeff Vetere will also join the club as vice-president (player recruitment) and technical co-ordinator respectively.

Wise’s appointment in particular had led to speculation that Keegan could find himself working in the shadow of a manager in waiting.

However, Mort was quick to dismiss the suggestion, confirming that Wise would have no day-to-day involvement with the playing squad, but would instead concentrate on assisting the Board on football matters, including player recruitment and the development of the Academy.

He said: “This is all part of the vision that recently helped us to secure Kevin Keegan’s return to the club as manager. Two of the conclusions of our strategic review, since acquiring the club, were that the club would benefit from having a football person involved at board level, which it has not had historically, and that further senior resources are needed for recruiting players of the highest quality from this country and further afield. Dennis would like to move away from day-to-day football management to a board role and, with his considerable energy and intelligence, we believe he will do very well in this new position.”