Kevin Keegan is making no apologies for wearing his heart on his sleeve.
The 57-year-old hit the headlines earlier this week with his outspoken assessment of the power wielded by the Premier League's big four, in the process prompting an invitation from Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to talks in London on Friday.
Keegan's comments in the wake of Monday afternoon's 2-0 home defeat by title contenders Chelsea have been interpreted in widely differing ways during the days since, with some commentators suggesting his relationship with Ashley had reached breaking point.
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The former England boss, of course, has never been afraid to air his feelings in public, although he was swift to dispel speculation that his post-Chelsea reaction was a repeat of the infamous "not like it was in the brochure" incident during his first spell in charge at St James' Park.
Instead, he insists what he said was an attempt to tell it like it is, something he will continue to do.
Keegan said: "Part of my job as manager of Newcastle United is to tell fans what's happening at their club.
"Part of the media's job is to report it correctly and keep it in context and not go off on tangents.
"You can take the same phrase three different ways, and it can mean three different things. You know that.
"I will continue to do what I have always done while I have been manager of Newcastle United, and at Manchester City and at Fulham and with England. I haven't changed.
"I am not scared of saying what I think the situation is, and I won't change that."
Keegan arrived back at St James' in January promising to provide the club's fans with exciting football and the prospect of a return to the lofty heights Newcastle briefly scaled during his last spell in charge.
If his thoughts are now tinged with a little more realism after four months at the coal face, he is no less determined to bring the good times back to Tyneside.
In the short term, that will mean ending a difficult season on a high at Everton on Sunday, where his side will take on a team looking to cement the fifth place Keegan believes has to be his target for next season.
He said: "That's our main target next year and that's a very good target to set ourselves from where we are at the moment."
A positive result at Goodison Park would see Keegan eclipse the club's Premier League low points total of 43 under Glenn Roeder last season, something Keegan set as a target several weeks ago.
However, they will have to do it without key players.
One, striker Mark Viduka, is anxiously awaiting news on his Achilles injury, which could yet rule him out for six months, while midfielder Joey Barton is also unavailable.
It is a measure of how much Barton has progressed under Keegan that he will be missed this weekend.
The 25-year-old, a £5.8million Sam Allardyce signing, endured a slow start to his Newcastle career after suffering a metatarsal injury in pre-season.
But he has started 13 of the last 14 games and is once again looking like the player he was at City.
Keegan said: "Joey can be really pleased with his performances.
"What he has done here is win over the fans - he has certainly won over a lot of his team-mates, who didn't know quite what he was like before."
