Following the resignation of Kevin Keegan on Thursday evening, Newcastle United have released a statement insisting they did not want Keegan to leave his role at St James Park.

After days of speculation, Keegan resigned quit following a disagreement with the club's directors over the transfer policy in place on Tyneside.

Newcastle, though, insist that they gave Keegan the chance to voice his concerns before he left.

As a few hundred fans protested outside the stadium on Thursday night, a statement on the club's official website read: "Newcastle United football club is sad and disappointed that Kevin Keegan has resigned.