Leeds United boss Dennis Wise will treble his wages when he takes up a director's role at Newcastle.

The Daily Mail says Wise's wages will jump to almost £1.5million a year in a deal which has been driven by Toon chairman Chris Mort.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was reluctant to discuss Wise's new role which, surprisingly, is expected to be based primarily in London and involve little contact with the first-team coaching staff. Instead, Wise will help oversee a number of key projects, including recruitment plus the youth and academy system.

The move, in which Leeds will receive £1m compensation for losing their manager, came so suddenly that even some of Newcastle's backroom staff were unaware that Wise was joining - or what his role would be.

Wise is part of a new management structure as Mort, appointed chairman by owner Mike Ashley in the summer, seeks to attract experienced football men to the club at board level. Football fixer Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere, a former member of Real Madrid's scouting network, have also agreed to join the club.