A Newcastle spokesman fears people have "jumped to the wrong conclusion" after Kevin Keegan met Mike Ashley following the Magpies' home defeat by Blackburn on Saturday.

Monday's back-page headlines are dominated by stories claiming Keegan was called in for 'crisis talks' in the wake of the last-minute defeat at St James' Park, which has left them just three points above the drop-zone.

And those reports claim Keegan was unable to give Magpies owner Ashley a guarantee of Premier League football for next season.

But while a club spokesman told The Times he "couldn't comment on what may or may not have been said in a private conversation", he added: "Mike always has a drink with the players and managers after the game and it sounds like someone has seen him talking to Kevin and jumped to the wrong conclusion."