Legendary English football manager Kevin Keegan has won £2m ($3m) in damages from Newcastle United in the so-called "YouTube" transfer row.

However, the sum is far smaller than that being sought by Keegan who quit the Premiership club last September.

He had been seeking in excess of £25m ($40m) for salary and "stigma damages."

Keegan quit in protest last year after the club brought in Uruguayan midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez against Keegan's advice.

He then claimed some £8.6m ($13.6m) in salary under his contract which was due to expire in June 2011.  And he also sought £16.5m ($26.1m)  in "stigma damages" in compensation.

The panel, convened by the Premier League, issued a statement which said: "We declare that Kevin Keegan was constructively dismissed by Newcastle United Football Club Ltd, for which Newcastle United Football Club Ltd must pay to Kevin Keegan damages in the sum of £2m plus interest to be assessed if not agreed."

Speaking after the decision was announced today, Keegan said:  "I resigned because I was being asked to sanction the signing of a player in order to 'do a favour' for two South American agents.

"No-one at the club had seen this player play and I was asked to sign him on the basis of some clips on YouTube.

"This is something that I was not prepared to be associated with in any way."

"The club knew that I objected strongly to this transfer and were aware that by continuing with it, I was likely to feel that I had no option but to resign.

"Notwithstanding this, they nevertheless went on to sign the player at very substantial cost to the club."

Gonzalez would play just 38 minutes of soccer in two games as a substitute for the Magpies during his loan term.