Kevin Keegan has resigned as Newcastle United manager on Thursday evening.

In the past few weeks the relationship between Keegan and the club's owner, Mike Ashley, have reportedly been strained, with Keegan feeling that he hasn't had enough control over the club's transfers.

The first reports that Keegan was likely to resign came on Monday and Keegan hasn't attended a training session since the transfer window closed on Monday evening.

The club's alleged attempts to sell Joey Barton and Michael Owen are said to have brought the tension to a head on Monday night and Keegan has now confirmed his resignation.

Keegan, who re-joined the Magpies as manager in January 2008, said in a statement: "I've been working desperately hard to find a way forward with the directors, but sadly that has not proved possible.

"It's my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want."

The frontrunner to replace Keegan as boss at St James' Park is former Magpies legend Alan Shearer.