Kev's Wise guy - Newcastle snap up Leeds boss... for an office job based in London

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But while Newcastle's new boss Kevin Keegan was made aware of the seemingly bizarre appointment, it was driven by St James' Park chairman Chris Mort.

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Keegan was reluctant to discuss Wise's new role which, surprisingly, is expected to be based primarily in London and involve little contact with the first-team coaching staff. Instead, Wise will help oversee a number of key projects, including recruitment plus the youth and academy system.

The move, in which Leeds will receive £1m compensation for losing their manager, came so suddenly that even some of Newcastle's backroom staff were unaware that Wise was joining — or what his role would be.

Wise is part of a new management structure as Mort, appointed chairman by owner Mike Ashley in the summer, seeks to attract experienced football men to the club at board level. Football fixer Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere, a former member of Real Madrid's scouting network, have also agreed to join the club.

But it is Wise's appointment which will raise eyebrows and disappoint Leeds fans after the former England international transformed them into League One promotion contenders, despite starting the season with a 15-point deficit for breaching competition rules.

His departure is a major blow to the club and chairman Ken Bates, who has put Dave Bassett in temporary charge at Southend on Tuesday night.

Keegan, who has recalled Joey Barton to his squad at Arsenal on Tuesday after the player's bail conditions were varied, gave his backing to the appointment during initial meetings with Mort and Ashley.

Keegan said: 'I'm very happy. I've spoken to Chris and, really, it's a distraction we don't need because I want to focus all my attention on Arsenal — but it's not a distraction in a negative sense.'

Wise's arrival will not prevent Alan Shearer joining his former club as a coach. A decision on whether a coaching role can be created is expected in the next 48 hours.

Bates now faces a search for a manager with Bassett, Paul Ince, Chris Kamara and Gary McAllister among early front-runners.

Bates said: 'Newcastle approached us last Friday and after we got the assurances we wanted I told Dennis he could talk to them.

'He apologised for giving us such short notice but said it was too good an opportunity to miss. He's leaving the club on a stronger footing than he found it when he came here.'

Wise's appointment to such a senior post came despite him being a long way short of holding his A-grade UEFA Pro Licence.