In a shock move, Newcastle have named former Wimbledon and Luton manager Joe Kinnear as their interim boss until the end of October.
The club have been without a manager since Kevin Keegan resigned this month and, having being turned down by former England boss, Terry Venables, have turned to Kinnear.
Current Newcastle owner Mike Ashley recently announced he is looking to sell the club and Kinnear hinted he expects Keegan, and possibly Alan Shearer, to take over once the club is sold to new owners.
“I am very excited by this challenge,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I am aware that the new owners have Kevin Keegan and possibly Alan Shearer parked around the corner.
“I understand investors are about to buy the club, (current owner) Mike Ashley told me openly. I will be here for six to eight games.”
Kinnear is fully aware that the role is temporary.
“I’ve never run from a fight in football and this is just about getting the team through,” he continued.
“I believe the club will be sold soon and at the moment (coach) Chris Hughton needs all the help he can get. I hope now that I can help to get a few results together.
“Those are the cards that I have and I’ll do the best that I can.
“The fans will be disappointed, I understand that, but I can’t do anything about. I will just be doing my very best because I am desperate to get back into the game.
“I will be going up to Newcastle on Monday and will pick the team from then. I’ll speak to Chris about it.”
Kinnear, 61, resigned from Nottingham Forest in December 2004 after a poor start to the season, despite having kept the club up in the previous season, but he is best remembered for his spell in charge of Wimbledon in the 1990s, leading them to sixth in the league in 1994.
“Newcastle United is a great club,” he added. “When I was in charge of Wimbledon I always remember the passion of the fans up there and how great a stadium St James’ Park is.
“It is a big challenge but one I am really looking forward to.
“The team are riddled with injuries with nine players out, which makes the job even harder, but myself and Chris will be working all hours to turn it around.”
