Newcastle Turn Attention to Zola

Gianfranco Zola has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United. Zola, who is Italy's Under-21 coach, has had two interviews for the managerial vacancy at West Ham United but Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, hopes he will come north instead.

The former Chelsea player who is regarded as the candidate most likely to appease the Geordie fans remains close friends with Dennis Wise, Newcastle's director of football and a former Stamford Bridge team-mate. Although the 42-year-old Sardinian turned down a coaching job alongside Keegan last season he is keen to become a Premier League manager.

Gus Poyet had appeared to be Newcastle's first choice but, despite having strong ties with both Wise and Tony Jimenez, another influential boardroom figure at St James', the Uruguayan is believed to have indicated a certain reluctance to succeed Keegan, who resigned on Thursday and was drawn into an unedifying war of words with directors over the weekend.

Meanwhile Marcelo Garc?a Toral, the Real Zaragoza coach, apparently ruled himself out of the running yesterday. It is understood he was twice sounded out about replacing Keegan earlier this year when he was in charge of Racing Santander but he now insists: "It doesn't matter what team it is, no club will take me away from Zaragoza."

With the chances of Newcastle being taken over by the Indian billionaire Anil Ambani receding, associates of Ashley have revealed that, in the light of his new status as the Toon Army's No1 hate figure, he is considering hiring former SAS men as bodyguards.

Tyneside's emotional temperature was further inflamed by a club statement released on Saturday night that claimed: "It is a fact that Kevin Keegan agreed to report to a director of football." In a riposte Keegan countered: "At the time at which I joined Newcastle United it was made clear to me that I would have the final say on player movement in and out of the club."