Keegan last night quit St Jamess' Park for the second time in his career, citing interference from within the club, particularly having players he did not want foisted upon him, as the deciding factor.

Wilkinson, a former England coach and ex-boss of Newcastle's north-east rivals Sunderland, believes Keegan's reign at the club was doomed to failure the moment Wise was subsequently appointed after the manager's arrival in mid-January.

"If you are going to work in a football club then the most prominent person in that club - certainly as far as the public is concerned and you could argue as far as anyone is concerned - is the man called the manager or the guy who is responsible for the first team," he told Sky Sports News.

"So to create a position which is going to result in friction through lack of communication, through a failure to communicate what the role is etc, seems to be a recipe for disaster.

"Particularly if you bring someone into that position between manager and board after you have appointed a manager."