Brought forward 24 hours so he can attend summit talks in London with Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, it is ostensibly about the final game of the season.

But Sunday's visit to Goodison Park is about the last thing on his mind, not to mention those of the club's anxious fans and the dozens of journalists who will gather in a cramped room at the club's Benton training ground to see the latest twist of an extraordinary season.

Keegan will face some tough questions, though it is unlikely to be as bruising as tomorrow's meeting with Ashley, Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez.

I wrote on Tuesday, in the wake of Keegan's explosive comments after the Chelsea game, that he was maybe too honest at times, and clearly the frustrations he aired after the 2-0 defeat at St James's Park had been simmering not far below the surface for some time.

And, as such, it was only a matter of time before they boiled over.

Keegan, as a manager, is used to being in control, and the structure put in place above him, headed up by executive director (football) Wise, since he returned in January does not appear to be sitting well with him.

Certainly, it's not something that long-serving managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger would be comfortable with.

Keegan is used to having such power at St James's Park from his first spell as manager, and his remark of "I'm just the coach," was one of the most telling.

However, he has clearly had his hands full on the training ground since returning to the club, and, as such, a system where players are identified for him has its merits, but understandably Keegan still wants to steer the direction of his summer rebuilding programme.

He feels with a decent transfer kitty, and some high-profile signings, he can challenge the Premier League's established top four.

Ashley is apparently unwilling to sanction the kind of spending seen elsewhere in the league, and, as such, he has Wise and Jimenez tasked with finding better-value acquisitions.

And if there are any flies on the wall tomorrow, they will be in for a frank exchange of views.

Newcastle's recent revival has fostered hope among fans, who felt in Keegan and Ashley they had the right manager and owner to take the club forward.

However, the odds have shortened dramatically this week on one half of that double act – Keegan – leaving the club.