newcastle to offer role to wise

[Jack]

Leeds United boss Dennis Wise will be offered a role in Newcastle's coaching set-up, BBC Leeds understands.
Leeds refused to comment on speculation linking Wise with a job under Kevin Keegan, who returned for a second spell as Magpies manager earlier this month.

Keegan held talks with Alan Shearer last week, but the former Newcastle hero has declined to return to St James's Park as his assistant.

Wise played for England under Keegan and has enhanced his standing at Leeds.

The 41-year-old has guided his team into play-off contention in League One despite them starting the season on minus 15 points.

That penalty followed their going into administration last season and being relegated, and money remains tight at Elland Road.

A Leeds spokeperson would only say: "We don't comment on speculation.

"We have an important game at Southend on Tuesday, and Dennis is preparing his team for that."

It has been reported on Tyneside that Newcastle are confident of recruiting Wise if they can agree compensation with Leeds.

But Wise is a close friend of Leeds chairman Ken Bates, who will fight tooth and nail to keep the former Chelsea midfielder at Elland Road.

Bates lost assistant manager Gus Poyet to Tottenham earlier in the season.

A win at Roots Hall on Tuesday could lift Leeds to second in the table.