Kev: Marce welcome

Mar 23 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

KEVIN KEEGAN has attempted to laugh off speculation in Spain that Racing Santander coach Marcelino has been sounded out about succeeding him at Newcastle.

Sources suggested Marcelino’s agent had been asked if the 42-year-old would be interested in moving to St James’s Park this summer.

But a smiling Keegan brushed off the story ahead of United’s crunch clash with Fulham yesterday.

“I wasn’t aware of it, no . . . but it’ll be nice to have him on board when he comes!”

Meanwhile, Keegan also defended new £1.5 million-a-year executive director Dennis Wise’s decision to go to the theatre rather than attend Newcastle’s defeat at Liverpool a fortnight ago.

Wise was watching “The Lion King” with his family while United were mauled at Anfield.

But Keegan insisted: “Dennis’s job is not to be at every game, his job is the Academy and looking at young talent coming through.

“So you could argue the opposite: that if Dennis is at a (first-team) game then he’s not doing his job.”