Joe Kinnear was today appointed Newcastle manager and then said he was only keeping the seat warm for Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer.

The former Wimbledon boss was the surprise choice as interim boss after the crisis-hit club failed to lure Terry Venables to St James' Park.

After a meeting with owner Mike Ashley, Kinnear has agreed a short-term contract, until the end of October, to fill the void left by Keegan's departure three weeks ago.

Ashley is in the process of trying to sell the club, with a Nigerian consortium the most likely buyers, and Kinnear admits the new owners will want their own personnel in charge.

The 61-year-old said: "I am aware that the new owners have Kevin Keegan and possibly Alan Shearer parked around the corner.

"I understand investors are about to buy the club, Mike Ashley told me openly. I will be here for six to eight games."

Kinnear has not managed a club since resigning from Nottingham Forest in December 2004, but previously spent seven years as a successful top-flight boss with Wimbledon in the 1990s.

With Newcastle slumping to second bottom of the Premier League in the wake of Keegan's exit, Kinnear will work alongside coach Chris Hughton to try to steer them out of relegation trouble.

Kinnear said: "I am very excited by this challenge, Newcastle is a great club, When I was in charge of Wimbledon I always remember the passion of the fans up there and how great a stadium St James' Park is.

"I've never run from a fight in football and this is just about getting the team through. I believe the club will be sold soon and at the moment Chris needs all the help he can get. I hope now that I can help to get a few results together.

"The fans will be disappointed [with the appointment], I understand that, but I can't do anything about it. I will just be doing my very best because I am desperate to get back into the game."

After Venables turned down the role over concerns about job security, Glenn Hoddle and David O'Leary were also linked with the role.

One report today claimed 17 managers had turned down the offer. Newcastle play Blackburn tomorrow with Kinnear's first game coming against Everton on 5 October.