Kevin Keegan was adamant last night that he will be able to work with Dennis Wise, the club’s new executive director, although he was vague on details and sounded far from convincing when he claimed that Wise would be reporting to him.

“He was one of the names that were put forward,” the Newcastle United manager said. “It would be wrong to suggest anything other than that I knew about what was going to happen. It was in place before I joined and this would have happened no matter who took this job. There has been no deception. I pretty much know what Dennis is going to do, and the idea in principle is very good, to bring a lot of youngsters in. I’m all for the changes, it’s not a problem.

“We had this discussion when I took the job. I didn’t know who would be the director, but they want someone on the board who understands football and Dennis Wise, whatever people want to write about him, does understand football and I think it will work very well.

“My concentration is on the first team, but I welcome the fact that people are going to try to pull this club together — it has become a bit fragmented and disjointed. I see it as a positive thing, as long as I can get on with my job. It is a big job, but I thought that before I came.”

Newcastle have not scored in six of the seven matches they have played this year, including the three games Keegan has been in charge. “The fans have common sense and know it’s not going to happen overnight,” he said. “Sometimes a new manager comes in and gives a team a surge, but that hasn’t happened with us. Arsenal have the confidence that we lack because they have had the results that we haven’t.

“With the players we’ve got, we will make chances but at the moment we are not doing so and if I was playing up front I would be as vociferous as anyone. It’s not due to lack of effort, but a little invention. We play Middlesbrough at the weekend and that will be another tough game, but it’s at home, the crowd will be behind us and we need a result.”

Led by Dennis Wise, Newcastle United’s new-look player recruitment department has taken immediate action, with Derby County rejecting a £1.5 million offer for Giles Barnes, their midfield player, yesterday. Paul Jewell, the Derby manager, values Barnes, 19, at £3 million, but Newcastle are reluctant to pay that much.