Woodgate set to join Spurs after Keegan admits defeat on Boro defender

Jonathan Woodgate yesterday delivered another setback to Kevin Keegan — following Newcastle United's 3-0 FA Cup fourth round defeat at Arsenal — by agreeing to sign for Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Middlesbrough's central defender, 28 last week, will sign for Spurs tomorrow even though he was presumed to be on his way back to St James' Park after Keegan agreed a £7million fee for the player.

Keegan acknowledged he had lost the race to sign Woodgate, saying: "I wanted Jonathan as the first part of the jigsaw but it looks like I have not got him. It is not an issue over the fee, definitely."

Keegan's disappointment at missing out on Keegan may be further compounded by Alan Shearer's admission yesterday that initial talks over a possible role for him at Newcastle ended in stalemate.

Shearer, the former Newcastle and England striker, said last night: "We hadn't spoken for a while but we spoke last week and Kevin wanted to find a role for me at the club. But after we spoke we just thought that it wasn't right.

"The problem is that we have very similar personalities. We are both very opinionated and that might not be what's needed. What I thought was needed was someone different to bounce ideas off.

"But we have agreed to speak again and see if there is a role for me but it has to be right for the football club.

"I already have a role as a Newcastle ambassador and that keeps me involved, but Kevin is keen to get me to the training ground.

"I have kept my distance because I don't want to be perceived as sticking my nose in.

"But Kevin has said that even if I don't get involved at the training ground I am more than welcome around the place."

Another unwelcome development for Keegan is the revelation that his Glasgow-based Soccer Circus has made an operating loss in its first trading year up to April 2007 of more than £1m.

Accounts published earlier this month for the leisure business, which opened its doors to the public in September 2006, appear to paint a gloomy picture for the venture, which had been the former England manager's dream project for the best part of a decade.

Billed as the world's first interactive football centre, Keegan said at its launch: "Soccer Circus has taken us over nine years to develop.

"It gives people a real opportunity to experience what it is like to be a professional footballer. I am delighted to be in Glasgow as it is a great football city."

Unfortunately, the first year's figures seem to show a cool response from the Glasgow public, with a turnover of only £279,420 and an operating loss of £1,082,422.

Keegan, hired by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley on a three-and-a-half year contract worth £3m a year, indicated last week that Soccer Circus would carry on in his absence, insisting: "I am confident it will go from strength to strength."

Newcastle's failure to secure a deal for Woodgate came after Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate decided to cash in on the former England defender after withdrawing him from his side's 2-0 FA Cup victory at Mansfield Town yesterday.

Southgate, who later praised the performance of his central defensive pair David Wheater and Robert Huth, said: "We have given Jonathan permission to speak to both Newcastle and Tottenham and he has a decision to make.

"Whether he wants to stay with us and be a part of what we are trying to achieve here at the club or move on is entirely up to him.

"I think we have strength in the centre-half area so that is why we have given him the option to decide where he wants his future to lie."

Southgate will use the money from selling Woodgate to help finance the imminent £12m signing of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Dutch side Heerenveen.