Kevin Keegan yesterday accepted £150,000 libel damages over betting allegations which had a "devastating" effect on him.

The former England coach and his wife Jean (right) were at the High Court in London to hear the News of the World offer its "sincere apologies".

Former Newcastle manager Keegan, 49, was England coach from March 1999 until his resignation in October last year.

The article, which appeared last November, alleged that Keegan was the ringleader in a betting school that caused bitter rifts between the gamblers and non-gamblers in the England team.

Outside the court, an emotional Keegan said the claims had caused misery to himself, the England players and the Football Association.

"The article made me look like somebody who did not care," he said.

"I think that everybody who works with me knows that is not true."

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