Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has started the task of preparing for next season after holding talks with club owner Mike Ashley.

The 57-year-old headed for London in the wake of his comments over the club's prospects of breaking into the Barclays Premier League's top four.

Newcastle chairman Chris Mort said: "It was a good meeting. It was both productive and constructive."

Coppell backs Keegan call

Reading boss Steve Coppell has backed Kevin Keegan's claims that the Premier League is too predictable.

The Newcastle manager is convinced the big four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have made the race for the title boring and Coppell could not agree more.

He said: "These teams have too much of an advantage on a week-to-week basis for it to be a competitive league."

Harry: KK telling truth

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is backing Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan's remarks about the Premier League's four-horse race becoming boring.

Keegan reckons clubs like his are not strong enough to break up the dominant cartel at the top of the table, and Redknapp said: "Kevin is spot on.

"Every year the top four is the (same) top four. They are on another level. He's only telling the truth."

Fergie: Times may change

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes there are several clubs threatening the dominance of the 'big four' in the Premier League.

Ferguson's words came in the wake of Kevin Keegan's controversial statement that the Premier League had become boring in recent seasons.

Ferguson said: "There's a lot of money floating around the Premier League and somebody may have a real go at it."

Moyes: Everton will fight

David Moyes faces Kevin Keegan on Sunday and insists the Premier League is anything but boring - and that Everton can break into the top four.

Newcastle manager Keegan has run into trouble by suggesting the league is tiresome but Moyes managed to break the top four monopoly three seasons ago.

Moyes said: "A lot of what Kevin said made sense but I'll never accept it cannot be done again."