Newcastle-Online.com readers questions to Newcastle Chairman Freddy Shepherd
For The Chronicle
Below are all the questions to Freddy Shepherd from Newcastle-online's readers
regarding the Chronicle's Q&A with the Newcastle United Chairman who has agreed
to answer a selection of questions sent into the Chronicle from Newcastle fans.
Home | Page
One | Page Two |
Q: When it's time for Souness to go, who will go first, you or him? After all,
you appointed him. Against the wishes of the fans too so you must take the brunt
of blame when the inevitable happens and I hope you will be big enough to follow
him out the door. Please resign Shepherd, you're making a pigs ear of things.
James Golding, Plymouth
Q: You don't need me to remind you that this season has been a complete failure
on and off the park and that next season must be better. Something which you yourself
have stated quite publicly. If the start of next season gets underway like the
last few, i.e. we are bottom after a few games, will Souness become your fourth
dismissal?
Malek S, Gateshead
Q: You have continued buying up shares in the club to increase your stake, simply
an investment or is there some ulterior motive behind this? Rumours abound that
you want to take full control of the club and take it back into private ownership.
Football club's operating on the Stock Exchange don't sit comfortably with me,
I've never been a big fan so I would be pleased if this is the reason behind your
increase in shares.
Mark Robertson, Felling Gateshead (Season Ticket holder)
Q: I must be in a minority but I happen to believe you are doing a good job. The
Stadium is a damn sight better than what it once was which is a huge achievement
and although results could be better, I firmly believe the club is in good hands
at Board Room level if not in the dressing room. I think you've made the wrong
choice in Souness and I do hope that you see the error in judgment before too
long. Keep up the good work Freddy, but please show Sourness the door before it's
too late.
John White, Newcastle
Q: Why are you so against appointing a foreign coach Freddie? In the Netherlands
there is Co Adriaanse and Guus Hiddink who don't need lots and lots of money to
build good winning teams who play technical football. PSV made it to the semi
final of the European Cup and AZ almost made the UEFA Cup final. If you sack Souness
can you please give the job to one of them?
Arje, Maastricht Netherlands
Q: How much money will Souness get to strengthen the team and will new players
be bought straight after the season ends?
Michael Parrish, USA
Q: Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton have all tried to bring in investment, are there
any plans for Newcastle to do the same?
Jim Buxton, Walker Newcastle
Q: How much are Newcastle prepared to pay for Shearer's replacement when he does
hang up his boots and have the club identified someone yet?
Jim Buxton, Walker Newcastle
Q: If Man Utd or Arsenal come to you with a big money offer for Given, would you
sell him?
Jim Buxton, Walker Newcastle
Q: Would you ever consider making Kevin Keegan manager again? He is the only man
capable of lifting the club in my opinion and injecting some passion back into
the crowd.
Jason Smith, Newcastle
Q: Can you please get rid of that god awful DJ and replace him with someone who
actually has taste in music. The pre and post match music selection is embarrassing
and aimed at kids and head bangers. If you can do that, I will sing "there
is only one Freddy Shepherd" at every home game.
Pete M, Elswick Newcastle
Q: Why in the name of god was Nobby Solano, one of our most technically gifted
players allowed to be sold for such a pathetic amount to a premiership rival?
Total madness - (Carl Cort was sold for more)!
Ben, Gateshead
Q: Do you have any plans to erect electronic scoreboards/video screens at SJP
- it would seem a big oversight in terms of potential advertising revenue, plus
it would ensure fans came to the ground earlier if there was pre-match entertainment
shown and more fans in the ground earlier means more fans buying pies & pints.
Andrew Bramfitt, Darlington
Q: What are your thoughts on Toon Ultras? I don't know if you are aware of them
but they a bunch of lads who have formed a fans club and sing and support the
team even when they are doing bad. They try to lift the rest of the crowd and
it would be fantastic if they were recognised in some way by the club who could
help them in their efforts. The fans need to be the 12th man again and SJP in
full voice for the whole game would give everyone a lift and would help improve
results. Can you give them a mention in your programme notes to help build their
numbers? More fans singing = more winning.
Gary Noble, Durham (Season Ticket holder)
Q: When Souness was appointed you said that this was not to be a transitional
season, and that you expected results from your new manager. Looking at how the
season has gone, I would assume that the manager has not delivered the goods.
What do you think now?
Steve Robson, originally from Scotswood but now living in Stoke on Trent
Q: I would like to ask you a simple question, Do you really think Graham Souness
is the right man for the job? To me and the majority of fans it has become apparent
that he is not, his management style is similar to Dalgleish and it would also
appear that he is about to do exactly as Dalgleish did, sell all of our players
that have flair and bring in players who are defensive and boring. This was proven
not to work under a disastrous spell under Dalgleish and all the indications are
that the same thing is about to happen with Souness. Please don't let this happen
to the club that I and many more love!
Peter Hastie, Gateshead
Q: The day you appointed Souness, Freddie, I lost all faith in your ability to
run Newcastle in the best interests of the fans. You were doing so well after
your disgraceful and hurtful comments in the News of the World as well but your
stock amongst thousands of match going fans is at an all time low. I ask you to
to honour the club and it's fans wishes by either sacking Souness or resign from
your position. Something has to give. Whether you want to see the picture ahead
of you or not, the fans will soon demand the sacking of Souness and in their thousands.
It could come as early as the Chelsea game and if you fail the fans again, it
will be your name being chanted. Trust me, I go to every home and away game and
99% of fans are baying for blood. Yours or Souness', we don't care. All we care
about is the club. If you did too you'd do the honourable thing, sack Souness
or sling your own hook.
Marcus Thompson, Newcastle (Season Ticket holder)
Q: How much do you think that "keeping your powder dry" during the two transfer
windows of 2003-04 has cost the club?
Graeme Allon, Chester-le-Street (Season Ticket holder)
Q: How much of an impact on the team and results do you think the poor atmosphere
at St. James' Park has had and would the club be willing to work with fans who
would like a singing section to restore the once famous Gallowgate roar?
Karl, Newcastle (Season Ticket holder)
Q: I would consider that you are doing a good job Freddy but you could do so much
more. I propose you get rid of all the trouble makers. Implement a live or die
by code of conduct for everyone at the club, the manager and yourself included.
Sign two truly outstanding players every year, blowing all funds on these two
players with the idea to have 6 or so truly outstanding players 3 years from now
which will give Newcastle a team capable of winning things. What do you think?
Simon Pattison, London
Q: We seem to have been overtaken in the Premiership by a number of so called
smaller clubs. Many say that this is because there has been no NET investment
in the playing staff over the last two years and that we did not show enough ambition
to capitalise on that third place finish. How would you respond to that?
Nigel and Rowan Wilson, Father and son supporters (for 45 and 15 years)
from Northampton
Q: When will you retire Freddy?
Colin Amour, Sydney Australia
Q: Did you not stipulate at the start of Souness' tenure that if trophies/success
were not forthcoming, then he would not be kept on? As this appears to not be
the case, would you like to comment on what, in your opinion, is now the measure
for "success"?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: Why has Alan Shearer, at 35 years of age and on the back of a poor, poor season,
been offered a new contract, which is worth at least £3.5m and a maximum of £5m?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: Why does there "appear" to be such a sense of unity amongst the board, the
management and the captain, when there is anything BUT unity among the fans?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: How does it appear that the back room staff of Newcastle United are completely
oblivious to the fans discontent?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: How does a board like yours take record bonuses year on year, whilst pushing
money to you privately owned subsidiaries, yet claim this is all for the good
of Newcastle United? Isn't it true that your own salaries are deliberately "low"
to ensure that the accountants are happy, when the millions made from profit share
are entirely for yours and Mr. Halls (et al) profit?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: Do you feel that the situation with the board members being business associates/family
members is similar to a monopoly and gives the fans little or no options in seeing
what goes on or directly affecting it?
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: Having sacked the likes of Dalglish, Gullit and, more tragically, Robson at
ridiculously bad times of the season, do you not feel it is now time to draw a
line under the past, apologise for your personal and business failings and seek
to appoint a CAPABLE manager with a DECENT track record who ISN'T your fourth
or fifth choice?!
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: You may or (more likely) may not be aware of quite how disgusted the fans are
with the 'old-boys-network' way that this club is currently being run. How would
you feel if individual supporters who are actually capable of touching the emotions
of the fans at large began to persuade people to stop buying the merchandise,
stop attending the games, etc., etc.? In short, how would you feel if people simply
turn against you and the club? You cannot hide behind the fact there's no other
club in the area, or hide behind your monopolising board, forever.
Roland Deschain, Newcastle
Q: Do you know why so many players have been injured this season and also why
has the fitness levels noticeably dropped dramatically since SBR left? Why has
the hunger and fighting spirit just left the team since SBR left also?
Mark Dawson, Ipswich
Q: Is it true that, as the media have reported, you did not consider appointing
a foreign manager? If this is the case why? especially in the situation where
the first choice British managers declined the job and you wound up appointing
Graeme Souness who has proved to be the most unpopular appointment within my memory
and has obviously failed to install discipline into the squad as was predicted
by the media immediately upon his appointment.
Rik, Manchester (Season Ticket holder)
Q: Were you satisfied with the display in Cardiff and with the tactics of the
manager?
Jonny, Gateshead
Q: Newcastle, in the past couple of seasons as a club have failed to make proper
'high class' signings as would befit the stature of this club even though we had
qualified for the Champions League/Uefa Cup. How on earth do you expect to attract
decent players this summer with the position we are in now?
Ryan Taylor, Lisburn Northern Ireland (Season Ticket holder)
Q: If the chairman has any thoughts of making Shearer manager, then why not do
it now? I can see another Bobby scenario coming in August if we don't start well.
Sick and tired of the crap dished up by NUFC under the guidance of you Mr. Shepherd.
Maybe it's time the fans expressed our views on YOU at the next home game?
Alan Rogers, Newcastle
Q: How do you view yourself against other Premier League chairmen?
Lisa Scott, Walker Newcastle
Q: There isn't a week that goes by when a newspaper quotes a Newcastle United
'club insider' which has been the cause of great unrest amongst fans who are sick
of this. Who is this club insider and if as I suspect, the media are just making
things up, then why don't the club exclude them from all press conferences or
take the said papers to court for their lies?
Mick G, Gateshead (Season Ticket holder)
Q: When Allison Antonopoulos, aka Allison Hall, was first appointed to the NUFC
board in 2004, as a non-executive director, you commented with words to the effect
that, "Allison's input would be a welcome addition to the NUFC board." Given
that Allison Hall, as a sitting director alongside Douglas Hall, oversaw the collapse
of the once mighty Cameron Hall Developments within two years of SJH's 1999 retirement,
is it safe to say that Allison Antonopoulos, like her brother, is a proven failure
in the world of big business and therefore shouldn't be on the board at NUFC?
Randall, Newcastle
Q: Given Allison Antonopoulos' failings in the business world was common sense/business
acumen conveniently thrown out the window, on your part, when finalizing this
appointment to the board?
Randall, Newcastle
Q: Was the Allison Antonopoulos appointment based on namesake alone?
Randall, Newcastle
Q: Given Allison Antonopoulos' track record as a company director - what sort
of "quality input" does she actually bring to the table so to speak? Can you,
as Chairman, inform fans as to what benefits she brings to Newcastle United?
Randall, Newcastle
Q: Who was responsible for the signings of Patrick Kluivert and Nicky Butt - you
or SBR?
Dead Bowden, Coventry
Q: Since becoming Chairman of Newcastle United the club have failed to seriously
challenge for the Premiership e, something a club like ours should be aiming to
win every season given the number of fans who fill the ground and the resources
available to the club. Do you see this as a failure and if so, what are your plans
to make sure the club challenge every season like we should be doing?
Carl Greenwood, USA
Q: One of the papers a few weeks back said you would be willing to sell your stake
in the club to a 'Geordie Abramovic', is this true?
Paul Stack, Chopwell Gateshead
Q: If you canvassed the opinions of fans, the vast majority of them would want
you to resign, how does that make you feel?
Joe M, Spain
Q: I would love to see 80,000 fans packed into St. James' Park one day and I believe
we would fill such a stadium, are there any plans to extend the East and Gallowgate
End to Level 7 like the Leazes and Milburn and if so, when do you think such plans
will be brought into effect?
Mark Chapman, Newcastle (Season Ticket holder)
Q: The recent fight between Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer brought shame on the club,
surely those two must be sold in the summer to restore some pride and sense of
control, will you be big enough to see this happen?
Alan P, Liverpool
Q: The way the club treats it's paying customers is a disgrace, as Chairman it
is your job to make sure the the club and fans are United, why isn't it and what
are you going to do to rectify this?
Darren Wells, Blyth
Q: You seem to revel in giving Sky Sports exclusives about the club concerning
all kinds of club related things from dropping names (Owen) to bragging about
the club (8th best in the world) to speaking out about grassroots football and
the running of other clubs, why is it that we never hear anything from other clubs
chairman and directors? Are you a Chairman or a media personality?
Carol Jobson, Newcastle
Q: Why did you try to sign Wayne Rooney when it was patently obvious to everyone
that we needed defenders? Was the bid just an attempt to make Newcastle look big
in front of other clubs and to excite fans?
Paul Johnson, Sydney Australia
Q: Would you resign if 50,000 fans demanded you did? I ask because pretty soon,
that's what will happen if things don't improve and it won't be the manager or
players fans turn on, but the man who hires them - YOU!
Andrew Jackson, Newcastle