Kinnear’s Toon tenure extended

NEWCASTLE boss Joe Kinnear will have the final say over his January signings after being handed the job until the end of the season.

Owner Mike Ashley yesterday effectively shelved his plans to sell the club for the meantime after fruitless weeks of searching for a buyer when he handed the 61-year-old the reins until May.

A delighted Kinnear later revealed that he had been told he would have money to spend, and that he could start the process of negotiating new contracts with the likes of striker Michael Owen and midfielder Nicky Butt, who along with goalkeeper Steve Harper will be free agents at the end of the campaign.

However, following predecessor Kevin Keegan’s premature departure in protest at the club’s summer transfer policy and the role of executive director (football) Dennis Wise in it, Kinnear insisted he will be in control during the forthcoming window.

He said: “At the moment, the plan is that I identify the players I want and then that will go back to the chairman, Derek Llambias, and then I assume he will give Dennis the order to go and get them, that’s how it works.

“But they are strictly my players. I identify them, it goes to the board, they will back it, hopefully finances will be made available and then Dennis will be given the task to go and negotiate and get the job done.”

Kinnear has already drawn up his list of targets, although it remains to be seen whether the finances at his disposal are sufficient to make permanent signings or simply to fund a series of loan deals.

He said: “I have spoken to the owner, I have explained to him where I think we need to strengthen up with the squad that we have got. He is quite happy with that and if we can get the players I am looking for, he has promised me that he will back me up.”

One of Kinnear’s first priorities, however, will be to deal with the vexed question of his out-of-contract players, and particularly Owen’s situation.

Kinnear, who side faces a derby trip to Middlesbrough tomorrow, said: “We have got to sit down with Michael now and actually find out how he feels about the situation.

“At the moment, he is being very receptive. I believe he likes it here, to be honest. That’s my personal opinion, but until I actually hear it from Michael, I don’t know.

“But I sincerely hope I am in a position to keep him, for sure, because I wouldn’t want to lose him.”