Joe Kinnear claims Newcastle owner Mike Ashley offered him a two-year deal to return as manager, which he rejected as he continues to recover from surgery.

Kinnear, 62, has been sidelined since a triple heart bypass operation in February and in his absence Newcastle were relegated from the Premier League.

"I told him I'm not going back to football until at least another three months," Kinnear told BBC Radio 5 live.

"If Newcastle feel they need to get another manager, then so be it."

As Kinnear recuperated, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer took over as manager until the end of the season but he could not save the club from dropping into the Championship.

To add to the air of confusion, Ashley is trying to sell the club and until Newcastle's future is sorted out, Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood will be in charge of the first team.

Shearer has admitted he has no idea if he will be appointed Newcastle boss on a full-time basis while uncertainty over the club's ownership persists.

He is likely to be at Newcastle's Championship opener at West Brom on Saturday - but working for the BBC as part of its live coverage.

Meanwhile, Kinnear said he had been given the all-clear by the specialist and planned to return to management "as soon as I get the opportunity," but he wants to pace himself.

606: DEBATE It's very far from ideal, but right now I don't care. My senses are numbed regarding Newcastle because all I want to see is the headlines "Toon Sold!". Incognito

"I've been offered a two year contract - it's something I'm mulling over at the present time." he added.

"It was about two weeks ago - I was due to go back for pre-season friendlies as manager but I told him I wasn't up to it for medical reasons.

"I need to take time out and reassess the situation, then take it from there. In another three months the picture might be completely different."

A spokesman for the club said Ashley had no comment to make at this stage.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version