Kinnear reveals Ashley talks

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The 61-year-old, who was drafted in as interim manager last Friday, knows his stay at St James' Park will be finite. However, as efforts continue to push through a sale, Kinnear hinted he could be at the helm for a little longer than first thought.

Asked if his stay could be permanent, Kinnear said: "I don't think so, to be honest, because I know for a fact Mike is talking to eight consortiums."

He added: "I don't know the outcome of those. I haven't got a time-scale on it, so I don't really know what the outcome is.

"But I know he is in talks with at least eight consortiums because he has told me that himself.

"Who they are, what they are, when it will happen, there is no time-scale on it.

"I am contracted for eight games, but I assume that should due diligence and the deals go on a little bit longer, it may run into 10 or 12 games."

It is understood prospectuses of sale - an official document detailing the club's current financial position - have been sent out to seven interested parties with consortia from Nigeria and South Africa among the most prominent.

However, the potential purchasers have all had to sign a confidentiality clause to prevent those figures being made public.

The Nigerian group has made no secret of its interest, while the South Africans had kept their own counsel until Thursday when a report named and quoted Jonathan Cleland, a South African-raised Scot, as its head.