Keegan plane gets black nose cone

The plane was dedicated to Kevin Keegan in July

An aircraft named after Kevin Keegan is to have its nose cone painted black after his abrupt departure from Newcastle United.

The plane, part of low cost airline Flybe's fleet, was dedicated to the former Magpies boss in July.

But the company said it believed Keegan had been treated "very badly" by the club over player movements.

The move is a mirror to the celebratory gold nose cone on the plane used by Britain's medal-winning Olympic team.

The newly-decorated plane will make its first scheduled flight on 14 September.

Flybe's Tyneside-born chief commercial officer Mike Rutter said: "We honoured Kevin because he was a great player and a great manager at Newcastle.

"He has been treated very badly by the club, and like many supporters, we wanted to show our support for him."

The Bombardier Q400 aircraft, which has the registration KKEV, will have a weekend paint job, before going into service between Newcastle and Gatwick.

Mr Rutter added: "We got the idea from the British Olympic team that came home from Beijing in a plane with a gold painted nose cone.

"That was a celebration - this is the opposite."

Keegan left Newcastle United earlier this month amid a row over player transfers.

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