David Cuffley City boss Glenn Roeder today said any approach from Newcastle for assistant manager Lee Clark would be “very strongly resisted” - after reports that Kevin Keegan would attempt to lure Clark to St James' Park as first team coach.

David Cuffley

City boss Glenn Roeder today said any approach from Newcastle for assistant manager Lee Clark would be “very strongly resisted” - after reports that Kevin Keegan would attempt to lure Clark to St James' Park as first team coach.

One national newspaper suggested Keegan, who made a dramatic return as Magpies boss yesterday, would attempt to bring in former Fulham boss Chris Coleman as his number two with Clark as coach.

Roeder said today: “I don't know anything about that but any such move would be very, very strongly resisted. We have had no approach for Lee.”

Former midfielder Clark, 35, played for Newcastle throughout Keegan's first spell as manager and later played for Fulham under Coleman, where he was captain in his final season.

Wallsend-born Clark was appointed Roeder's number two before his first game in charge against Ipswich after leaving his post as Newcastle reserve team coach, and is credited with helping the Canaries pull clear of the Championship relegation zone.

The addition of Paul Stephenson as first-team coach completed a Colney management trio with powerful Newcastle connections.

Clark said in a recent interview: “We bounce ideas off each other. The final decision is with the manager but he knows that if he asks our opinion he will get an honest answer. He doesn't want to be surrounded by yes men, but by people who speak the truth and give their opinions.

“We are all working towards the same end and trying to do our best for each other and the club, to keep Norwich City in the Championship and, further down the line, get back into the Premiership.”

He added: “When I first came down I realised the set-up was Premier League standard. But we had to get the team believing in themselves and playing with more confidence.”

Coleman, who played under Keegan at Fulham before managing the club, resigned yesterday as coach of Spanish second division side Real Sociedad, saying circumstances made it “impossible” for him to continue.