Newcastle United's Joe Kinnear believes that he is "head and shoulders" above all other directors of football as he begins his new role at St James' Park.

The 66-year-old, whose controversial move to the Magpies was not warmly welcomed by a large majority of the fans, has signed a three-year contract with the Premier League outfit.

"Every top club in the land has got one," Kinnear told the Shields Gazette. "We haven't, that's the difference. The manager can't do everything. I'm probably the only football manager to be a director of football.

"I don't know any other ex-managers who have. I've been a manager for 35 years. I've been Manager of the Year.

"I've won every award there is in football as a player. I think all those qualities put me head and shoulders above every other director of football."

Kinnear has had managerial stints at the likes of Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.