Kevin Keegan ... resigned as Newcastle manager yesterday. - File

NEWCASTLE, England (AP):

KEVIN KEEGAN resigned yesterday as Newcastle manager after only seven months, quitting the Premier League club for the second time.

After a week of talks with the club's board, Keegan released a statement saying he had "been left with no choice but to leave".

Keegan had been retired from coaching at the professional level until the Magpies persuaded him to return last January. But he grew frustrated at his lack of influence over transfers, losing James Milner to Aston Villa last week and failing to secure several other targets.

The appointment of Dennis Wise as director of football was seen as undermining Keegan's power over the squad.

Working desperately hard

"I've been working desperately hard to find a way forward with the directors, but sadly that has not proved possible," Keegan said, "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."

Managing director Derek Llambias sent Keegan a letter yesterday to resolve their differences and urge him to stay, but the League Managers Assoc-iation (LMA) said Keegan still felt undermined and had "no alternative other than to resign".

The departure echoes his 1997 exit, when his five-year tenure ended after a dispute with the board.

"It remains my fervent wish to see Newcastle United do well in the future," Keegan said.