Football: Coloccini on way to Newcastle as Cox departs

Kevin Keegan prepared to welcome a new defender to Newcastle last night but said farewell to a key member of his boot room and could also be losing a striker. While Fabricio Coloccini underwent a medical after Deportivo La Coruña and Newcastle agreed a fee believed to be £10m for the Argentinian, Arthur Cox severed his connections with the club. Meanwhile Alan Smith appeared on the verge of a £2m move to Everton. One of the first things Keegan did on returning to Newcastle in January was appoint Cox, his long-time mentor and a former manager at St James' Park, in a key backroom role. However, it emerged yesterday that he has left, with no details revealed as to the reasons. Smith, who joined Newcastle from Manchester United for £6m last August, has struggled to make an impact. With Newcastle keen to reduce the wage bill, an... [read full story]