Titus Bramble heads home Wigan Athletic’s late equaliser. Photograph: Steve Drew/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
An hour or so after the final whistle, Steve Bruce’s mobile phone rang. “Sir Bobby,” exclaimed Wigan Athletic’s manager, suddenly beaming. “I’ll be there in five minutes and we’ll have that cup of tea.” With Sir Bobby Robson having recently made it plain [...]

Will it be an eff, or will it be a cee? Photograph: Craig Brough/AFP/Getty Images
Preamble Hello. Competitions are like Y-fronts: the tighter they are, the better they usually look. But even the most rabid Stone Islander would struggle to legitimately argue that the tight squeeze in the lower half of the Premiership - where just [...]

Joe Kinnear is extending his stay on Tyneside. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The interim Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear is to sign a new one-month contract as efforts to sell the club continue. The 61-year-old will extend his stay on Tyneside, which was due to expire at the end of October, until the end of November by [...]

Owen faces a spell on the sidelines with a groin injury. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images
Michael Owen is a major doubt for Newcastle United’s match against Manchester City on Monday after sustaining a groin injury during training. The striker suffered the injury yesterday and underwent a scan earlier today.
The results of the scan suggest that the [...]

Tom Isaacs of Newport Gwent Dragons breaks a tackle during his side’s victory over Newcastle Falcons in the EDF Energy Cup. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
Jonny Wilkinson may have successfully undergone surgery on his injured left knee yesterday but Newcastle remain in urgent need of treatment for travel sickness. They have yet to taste success on [...]

This man would love it when a plan comes together. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP
When the Mill rode into Transfer Tittle-Tattle town today, it was deadly quiet.
Too quiet. A one-horse town where even the horse had left.
Nothing but wafting tumbleweed, a hot and hazy shimmer and a scabby dog with a limp cowering to the sinister, [...]

Kevin Keegan has been unhappy with Newcastle’s failure to attract key signings. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Kevin Keegan’s reign at Newcastle has come to an abrupt end after meetings with club owner Mike Ashley today, according to Guardian sources.
After making his unhappiness with the club’s failure to sign three or four major targets this summer [...]

Xisco is understood to be on the verge of a deal at Newcastle. Photograph: Rafa Rivas/AFP/Getty Images
Deportivo de La Coruña claim they have agreed to sell striker Xisco to Newcastle and that he will now hold talks with the Premier League club, while Valencia also say that the Magpies have signed their midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez [...]

Newcastle’s latest signing Jonas Gutierrez. Photograph: Jaime Reina/Getty Images
The Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan today made his first major summer signing when he landed Argentina international winger Jonas Gutierrez for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract. Gutierrez, who is 25 on Saturday and has been nicknamed Spiderman for the mask he puts on for goal [...]

Barton is due to be sentenced today after admitting assaulting Ousmane Dabo. Photograph: AP
Joey Barton will face talks over his Newcastle United future with the club’s manager Kevin Keegan and managing director Derek Llambias upon his release from prison. Barton, who is currently serving a six-month sentence for assault, admitted attacking his then Manchester City [...]