Kinnear begins battle to end Magpies freefall

JOE KINNEAR got down to work yesterday as he attempted to drag Newcastle out of their tailspin.

The 61-year-old headed for the training pitch after giving the men who played on Saturday the day off to get over the disappointment of the 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn.

As the club’s future off the field remained in the hands of investment bankers Seymour Pierce and its chairman, Keith Harris, interim manager Kinnear set about restoring some stability.