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Former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan became the latest person linked to the vacant manager's job at St James' Park on Monday following the departure of Sam Allardyce last week.
Keegan, 56, who played for the club in the 1980s and managed them for five years in the 1990s, taking them close to the title in 1996, told Sky Sports News on Monday he was "not ruling himself in or out," quickly adding: "It's a club I love, everyone knows that."
Former England boss Keegan has not coached since leaving Manchester City in March 2005, but fevered speculation in the North East has linked him alongside Alan Shearer as a possible management duo now Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp has declined the position.
The search for Allardyce's replacement is gathering pace with Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes the favourite to take control of the club who crashed to a 6-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.
Hughes refused to rule himself out either after Blackburn beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on Sunday, twice passing up an opportunity to say he would still be at Ewood Park in the summer.
"It's a hypothetical question and I don't answer hypothetical questions. In football you never say never but I'm very happy to be Blackburn Rovers manager."
Graeme Souness, who managed the club between 2004 and 2006 said he would be willing to return now that the club had a new chairman.
Souness, who worked under Freddy Shepherd, said: "With a new chairman (Mike Ashley) there now, I'd certainly be interested in returning."
Souness added if he was offered the job, he would take it "in a heartbeat.
"It is a big club. It has got the potential to be one of the best. But its not a quick fix and whoever gets it is going to need a minimum of three or four years."
Other names for the job include Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool coach, former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol and former England and Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren.
- REUTERS
