Keegan says it was not a hard decision to succeed Sam Allardyce and he is excited at the prospect of trying to turnaround the club's fortunes.Keegan: There Was No Decision To Make!
Keegan says it was not a hard decision to succeed Sam Allardyce and he is excited at the prospect of trying to turnaround the club's fortunes.Keegan: "I wouldn't say it was a big decision. I love this football club and I don't think anyone would ever doubt that.
"From that point of view, you know life has moved on and I was doing other things, I had to make a decision, and in the end it was a very easy one.
"I have met the owner Mike Ashley and I like him very much. I also met the chairman Chris Mort, and just talking to them, I felt they both knew what they are doing.
"I spent an hour with Mike and that convinced me it is right to come back to help him with what he is doing with Newcastle United and what he wants from the football club.
"There is some unfinished business here. Everybody has got their opinions on the game of football and what people should and shouldn't do.
"But I think this is right and I certainly think they are a strong group of players, which is something which I didn't know when I came last time.
"When I came last time, we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium. That's not the problem here as you well know - it will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we could put the football on and get any success here.
"It's very, very exciting - I'm just as excited this time as I was when I came to play here at 31 years old and when I came to be manager.
"I have literally just come down here, in the clothes I had on yesterday.
"I have come down from Glasgow with my wife.
"I will have a good look at the squad and the training ground. I have not been to the training ground. It's not the same one I left all those years ago, at least not the same stadium.
"So I am going to learn a lot in a short space of time and we've got a big game on Saturday.
"I know what the fans want and I know what they don't want as well.
"As long as they are realistic and patient I think we can try again to help them have dreams and possibly win something.
"As long as they are realistic and patient I think we can try again to help them have dreams and possibly win something.
"I am just as excited this time as I was when I came to play here at 31 and when I came as a manager at 43 or 44.
"I think this is right, I have certainly inherited a strong, talented group of players - which is something I didn't have when I came last time.
"When I came last time we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium. That is not a problem.
"They will be trying to get a stadium big enough if we can put some football on and get some success here.
"The job in hand is a big job, it is a great club."