Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan on the brink as he goes to war with Wise and Ashley over transfer targets

Wise has made it clear that he has no interest in becoming manager, insisting that he is perfectly happy to continue in his role as executive director (football).

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But Keegan, according to sources close to him, only sees conspiracy amid the apparent chaos behind the scenes and has convinced himself his days are numbered at St James' Park.

Keegan is renowned for his public outbursts but Monday's thinly-veiled attack on owner Mike Ashley and the club board was something he had been planning for six weeks.

It is understood to date back to the start of the contract negotiations with Michael Owen which, for Keegan, represent another major source of frustration.

When Keegan returned to Newcastle in January, he described Ashley as the perfect owner and someone the club should endeavour to keep.

After last Monday's defeat by Chelsea, Keegan said he had a great relationship with Ashley because he 'never' talks to him.

A particular problem for Keegan concerns player recruitment and other major football decisions.

He thinks Wise and Tony Jimenez, who is the new vice-president with responsibility for player recruitment, are making decisions without even consulting him and do not share his philosophy on players.

While Keegan wants to bring in established internationals like Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright- Phillips, Wise and Jimenez are said to be scouting for so far undiscovered players who will grow in value once they come to the club.

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They want to bring in a new striker, when Keegan considers it more prudent to secure Owen on a long-term contract and he is becoming increasingly angered by the club's apparent apathy when it comes to extending the England forward's current deal.

In his programme notes, Owen said he was still waiting for the club to begin talks over a new contract.

It was one of the key reasons why Keegan went on the offensive on Monday, arguing that a lack of financial backing will keep Newcastle in what he now considers the second tier of the Barclays Premier League.

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He said: "We're a million miles away from challenging for the league, but if my owner backs me, and I have no proof of that but no doubt he will, we want to try to finish fifth and top of the other mini-league.

"I get on great with the owner because I never talk to him."

Keegan also bemoaned the fact that he considers the financial backing from Ashley to be insufficient — interestingly, the same issue with former chairman Sir John Hall which prompted him to resign in 1997.

Keegan will not resign on this occasion, not least because he cannot afford to financially, and the club's owners realise that sacking him would be hugely unpopular with supporters who still adore their Messiah. The impasse is likely to lead to a difficult summer.

Friction over the recent departure of video technician and ProZone expert Dave Fallows, whom Keegan inherited from previous manager Sam Allardyce, could be an early indication of the battles ahead.

Newcastle attempted to dampen down the speculation last night when a spokesman said: "The story is inaccurate and anyone reading it should attach no credence to it whatsoever."

Meanwhile, Everton, West Ham, Celtic, Wolves and Queens Park Rangers want former Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Carr, who was one of three players told by Keegan he will not be offered a new contract by Newcastle.

The former Tottenham defender, who announced his international retirement last year, signed from White Hart Lane in 2004 and has made 107 appearances for Newcastle.

But he has also been plagued by injury in his four-year stint.

Ashington-born Peter Ramage, who has featured in 68 first-team games, and Australia youth player James Troisi have also been told they can leave.