Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort admits they didn't think they could tempt Kevin Keegan back to the club.

Mort said: "We didn't think we'd be able to get Kevin back to the club but he's the right man and we're absolutely delighted."

Both he and Mike Ashley wore broad smiles as they flanked Keegan in the directors' box last night with the reaction of jubilant supporters concrete evidence of the initial success of their mission.