Newcastle-Online comment: 10th July 2004
The Mirror newspaper are claiming that there is a rift between Freddy
Shepherd and Bobby Robson over transfer targets. Check out the full
story below...
NEWCASTLE United's pre-season plans
have been thrown into disarray because of a split between Sir Bobby
Robson and chairman Freddie Shepherd. The club are paralysed in the
transfer market because Robson and Shepherd are at loggerheads over
which players to sign for next season.
Their disagreement is a sign of the power struggle at St James' Park
and Shepherd has greatly reduced Robson's influence by putting him
on a 12-month rolling contract. Shepherd was dismayed by Newcastle's
disappointing season, which culminated in their failure to qualify
for the Champions League.
Shepherd knows he cannot sack Robson because he is a legend at the
club, but insiders say he has already decided that this coming season
will be the 71-year-old's last in charge. The Newcastle supremo intends
to move Robson upstairs and is lining up Alan Shearer to take over
team affairs next summer when the striker retires from playing.
All this means Shepherd is reluctant to let Robson spend too much
in transfer fees and wages when he has only 12 months left and this
has caused the pair to clash over possible targets. Shepherd has effectively
got one list, which he is pursuing, while Robson has another. Shepherd
is the driving force behind Newcastle's attempts to sign Patrick Kluivert,
even though Robson is unsure about the striker.
Robson has not been getting good reports back from his contacts at
Barcelona about the temperament and character of the Dutchman, who
is available on a free transfer. He would prefer to go after Southampton's
James Beattie, who would favour a move to Tyneside, and he feels the
England striker is a natural replacement for Shearer.
But Shepherd will not sanction a move for Beattie as the deal would
swallow up virtually all of their remaining £8m budget. The pair were
also divided over Danny Mills, with Shepherd wanting the England defender
while Robson did not fancy him. Shepherd instructed agents to negotiate
a possible deal with Leeds and Mills, even though Robson told him
he did not want him because he felt he has a bad disciplinary record.
Robson preferred Portugal's Miguel to fill his problem right-back
position, but Shepherd reckoned he would cost too much. Shepherd has
also taken the lead in Newcastle's efforts to sign Nicky Butt from
Manchester United, both now and back in January. He feels the England
international could beef up Newcastle's midfield and replace Gary
Speed.
A source close to Newcastle said: "The two seem to be operating independently
of each other. But it's clear there will only be one winner from this
and Shepherd is asserting his control over Robson." So far this summer
they have only signed £3.6m James Milner from Leeds.
So, according to the Mirror (a paper not known for speaking the truth),
Fat Fred and Bobby don't see eye to eye over transfers...big deal,
isn't this the case with most clubs? Is this something new? Of course
not, but nothing stops this paper form sensationalising nothing stories.
Feel free to print it off when the Andrex runs out... |
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