The 62-year-old former Tottenham and Republic of Ireland defender, who dragged Wimbledon kicking and screaming into the upper reaches of the English top flight before eventful spells in charge at Luton and Nottingham Forest, has never experienced anything quite like the circus at St James' Park in recent weeks.

Star goalkeeper Shay Given is desperately attempting to secure a switch to Manchester City after finally losing patience with the Magpies, midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has gone to astonishing lengths in what appears to be an effort to engineer his own exit, while the club's billionaire owner - at least he was before the credit crunch bit - has returned to the tiller in a fevered effort to drag the club away from the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

Add to that the £4million arrival of Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan, the pursuit of at least two more - so far elusive - targets, an injury list which would shame an episode of Casualty and the small matter of Sunday's derby clash with arch-rivals Sunderland, and even Kinnear has been left dumbfounded.

He said: "It's probably the hardest time I have had since I have been in football.

"Things haven't gone our way. Everything possible has conspired to go against us. It just goes from bad to worse, really.

"But you have to fight and deal head-on with the situation. I am not going to run away from the situation.

"The fact is that this is the position we are in and it is up to ourselves to do something about it, and it is up to those players who wear the shirts to do something about it."

Sunday's game, which will give Sunderland the chance to secure a first league double over their nearest rivals since the 1966-67 season, has almost become a side issue in the context of what else is happening at a club with an innate ability to make headlines for the wrong reasons.

Kinnear revealed Given has been given permission to talk to Manchester City, although insisted no fee has been agreed, with the Magpies having dismissed out of hand a £5million offer.

He said: "I would hate to lose Shay, but the ball is firmly in Man City's court now.

"Shay has been given permission to go and talk to them, so I would think, unless Man City pull out, that something could be happening over there."

N'Zogbia's case, however, is different, with the 22-year-old Frenchman having effectively gone on strike at the "insult" of Kinnear misprounouncing his surname as "insomnia" during a television interview.

Kinnear said: "It was just a schoolboy quote - so I have caned him, given him six of the best.

"He is a talented boy, he has got ability, but every day we read there's a new team coming in for him.

"He's either joining Arsenal or he's joining Chelsea or he's joining Manchester United. It's just ongoing, non-stop.

"The point is, there is no truth in it, that's the point. I haven't had a bid, so we will wait and see.

"Should the right offer come in for him, I will certainly look at it.

"If we can do exchange deals - ie, I get a decent player coming my way - then I won't stand in his way."

Kinnear revealed that the club's move for Toulouse full-back Albin Ebondo stalled when the French outfit suddenly doubled their asking price to £6million, but he remains hopeful of adding two more signings before Monday evening's transfer deadline.

One of the newcomers could be Wigan full-back Ryan Taylor, who could yet arrive in a swap plus cash deal with N'Zogbia.

Meanwhile, Kinnear will attempt to turn his attention to Sunday's game, in which Nolan will make his debut, and the business of dragging his side away from the drop zone.

He said: "Truthfully, it's probably the last thing I need because I am going in under-strength, it's as simple as that.

"But we know it is a fact. We have got to make sure we are prepared and make sure we win."