KEVIN KEEGAN'S departure from Newcastle could end up in court, with the Magpies chasing their former boss for several million pounds of damages.

It is thought Keegan's contract has a £2m compensation clause to be paid in the event of him being sacked, but leaving him with the same amount to pay the club should he quit.

Director of football Dennis Wise may approach his former Chelsea team-mates Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola for managerial roles at St James' Park.

Spaniards Marcelino Garcia Toral, Miguel Angel Lotina and Juanma Lillo are also linked with a move to the club, to take a coaching role in line with a Continental club structure.

Other reports say owner Mike Ashley is considering selling up the club, with talks scheduled with Arabian investors next week.

Geordie fans are considering several courses of action, including a boycott of the next home match, to register their anger at the treatment of Keegan.

They won't hear any response from players, however, who have each received a text message warning them not to speak to the media. Stories in today's English papers West Ham boss shortlist of 30 includes Zola, Slaven Bilic, Roberto Donadoni, John Collins, Michael Laudrup, Roberto Mancini and Gerard Houllier, Paolo di Canio and ex-Udinese boss Serse Cosmi. Man City boss Mark Hughes says he will stay in charge of Eastlands transfer dealings. Liverpool star Yossi Benayoun rejected £3.5m signing fee from Spartak Moscow before the transfer deadline. England boss Fabio Capello will keep a translator in the camp for the qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia. Delia Smith is using royalties from her latest cookery book to help keep Norwich afloat.