FA latest: United in dock over Knight again From the FA website, Monday: Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 for a failure to act in the best interests of the game and/or having brought the game into disrepute. The charge relates to post-match media comments following Newcastle United's Premier League match against Everton on 7 May 2005. Souness has until 6 June 2005 to respond to the charge. The opening goal in our 2-0 loss at Goodison came in part after a rogue free kick call from referee Barry Knight, who later sent off Shola Ameobi - having dismissed three United players in the previous game of ours he officiated (Villa at home). We reported Souness as saying: "The referee was apologising to some of our lads before the game for the penalty he gave in that Aston Villa match. It was outside the box and he said that. "That was the game when we had three players sent off out of extreme frustration. But Mr Knight escaped without any criticism that day and this time he has given a free-kick to Everton that wasn't and it changed the game. "There were other decisions he got wrong. We feel hard done by again because of Mr Knight. I won't defend Ameobi for what he did and when he was sent off the game was over but Boumsong says it wasn't a foul on Bent when they scored their first." "We dominated the first half and were guilty of not taking our chances. Then we conceded a bad goal we didn't deserve to let in, and after that Everton's fans got behind their side and we were very subdued. "It could have been a very different game. But football is about reality. It should have been 0-0 at half-time because the referee got it wrong again. "The last time we had him against Aston Villa he got it wrong there. And the same thing happened this time. We keep picking the tab up. It hurts, it bloody hurts." This is the second charge of a rule E3 breach Souness has been landed with this season, the FA reporting his previous offence as follows: At a Disciplinary Commission hearing held on Friday 10 December, Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness received a one-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine. Souness was charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 for improper conduct after being sent from the dug-out by referee Howard Webb during the match against Fulham on 7 November.

Resignations: Ruud boy no longer "Kuiped" up It's now been confirmed Ruud Gullit has left his post as Feyenoord coach after less than a season in charge at De Kuip. A fourth place finish and defeat in the UEFA Cup at the hands of Sporting Lisbon saw the Rotterdam club and the former toon coach part company on Monday, despite Feyenoord ending the season at the weekend with a 6-3 success against Den Haag. Another manager with toon connections moving on is former Magpies goalkeeper Tommy Wright. He's quit his post as manager of Limavady United in his native Northern Ireland and is among names being mentioned in connection with the vacant post at Ballymena United. Also interviewed for that job has been former Newcastle striker Michael O'Neill, whose playing career came to an end last year at Ayr United ands has since been living in Edinburgh and working in the financial services industry. And also on his way is Southampton assistant boss Jim Smith, who has parted company with Harry Redknapp.

Portugal: No Victor, Hugo Rangers weren't the only side formerly managed by Souness to be celebrating title success at the weekend, as Benfica claimed the Portuguese championship with a 3-1 win over Boavista on the final weekend of the league season. Meanwhile their Lisbon rivals Sporting Lisbon suffered a 4-2 home loss to Nacional Madeira, Hugo Viana playing for the full ninety minutes.

Another departure: Forgotten man shown the door Little over a week after his 26th birthday, Newcastle confirmed on Saturday that midfielder Jamie McClen had been released by the club. This brings to an end the toon career of a man labeled in some quarters as "the luckiest **** on Tyneside" - even if many fans still didn't know his name (it's McClen not McGlen...). Certainly being a life-long toon fan and being paid good money for an occasional reserve appearance, training with the first team and appearing on the squad photo each August sounds like a grand way of paying the bills to us. But while his attitude can be questioned (and he himself claims United refused to allow him to be loaned out in 2004), who of us wouldn't have similarly have sat on our contract and watched the money roll in? For that McClen has Ruud Gullit and Bobby Robson to thank - the Dutchman handing him a pro deal in 1998 and the Knight surprisingly giving him a new three year extension in 2002 - since when he's appeared for a grand total of three minutes in the first team (sub v West Ham at home, August 2002). McClen has been with Newcastle since he was 14, having previously had trials at Leeds, Hearts, Everton and Manchester City - when he played as a centre forward. His final Magpies appearance came in front of just 89 fans at Kingston Park for an end-of-season afternoon reserve game against Wolves. Making his senior Magpies debut in April 1999 at home to Spurs, McClen went on to start 10 games and appear as sub in 12 more (all competitions). His only goal came at London Road, Peterborough in an FA Cup tie back in January 2002 while he did briefly surface at Motherwell in 2000, before injury curtailed his loan spell. We'll always remember him though for his red card in December 2001, playing for Newcastle's reserve side against Bedlington Terriers in a Senior Cup tie. Under a headline "I saw Jamie Dissing Santa Claus" we reported the incident as follows: United midfielder Jamie McClen received an unwanted Christmas card at Welfare Park on Thursday night, after apparently being dismissed for making an inappropriate comment to the match official. Spectators close to the incident later confirmed that what was going to be a yellow card for a tackle became a straight red when Jamie gave his name as Santa Claus. An unimpressed referee promptly dispatched him without further ado to the nearby grotto, otherwise known as the changing rooms. Nobody from Newcastle or Bethlehem sorry, Bedlington Terriers was available to comment, although several small children later attempted to gain access to the away dressing room to ask Jamie if he'd bring them a bike, rollerboots and the new Steps record 'cos they'd been dead good all year. PS - Newcastle also officially confirmed on Saturday the release of Patrick Kluivert and reserve defender Stephen Brennan. With contracts offered to Ramage and Chopra, the situation regarding Tony Caig remains unclear - the other player out of contract this summer.

Hughes Toon ordeal Aaron Hughes today told of his heartbreak at learning he was no longer wanted at Newcastle United. The versatile defender joined Aston Villa on Friday in a £1m move, the last of his 278 appearances for the club having come against Sporting Lisbon at St James' Park last month. The 25-year-old had been aware of speculation that David O'Leary was interested in him as the season drew to a close, but the Northern Ireland captain felt he still had a future under Graeme Souness. Souness had not told Hughes, who had two years left on his contract, that he was prepared to listen to offers for him. And it was a call from his agent informing him that he had been given permission to talk to Villa that spelled the end of his nine-year association with the Magpies. "I knew Aston Villa were interested as I'd heard whispers but as far as I was aware the club had said I wasn't for sale," said Hughes. "Then all of a sudden I got a phone call from my agent to say they'd been approached and this time I could go as the fee was being agreed. "At the end of the day the club's basically saying `you can go - you're not needed' and another club's desperate to have you. It puts you in the position where you have got to do what's right for you. I've got my family to think about as well. "The choice was made for me as Newcastle were prepared to let me go, and another club was desperate to have me." Hughes added that he has not yet had a call from the club's hierarchy to thank him for his long service. He had made 36 appearances in total last season, fewer than in the four previous campaigns, but the Cookstown-born player was ready to fight for a place next season before making a decision on his long-term United future. He said: "It'll be good to be playing football. Hopefully I can go down there and hold a regular spot and get myself playing regularly again. If I do that, I'll be happy. "Last season I think I played 35 games - normally I play that many in the league, never mind with Europe as well. It has been one of those seasons. I was going to see who was brought in, sit for six months and see how it panned out, then make my decision. As it turned out, it was taken out of my hands but I'm excited about moving to Aston Villa, although it's a hard thing to leave. I came here when I was basically a young lad and I've done most of my growing up here and it'll always be my home. "My wife's from here, I've got family here and it's a cracking place to live. I'd like to think I'd come back here to live." Hughes added: "It'll be weird next season. It'll be nice to see old friends and it's the one I'll look for on the fixture list. I'll always be looking out for Newcastle." O'Leary has signed Hughes to play at right-back and he will renew his partnership with former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano, the pair having formed an understanding on the right when Sir Bobby Robson switched Hughes to full-back in the 2001-02 season. Hughes said: "I know I can play in various positions, and that some people say my best position is centre-half, but I'm going as a right-back. "I'm going to play one specific position and I'll keep it as long as I'm playing well, which is good to know. There comes a time when you need a position of your own." Hughes' one regret is that he left St James' without having helped the club end its 36-year trophy drought. "I don't have many regrets but one was that I never won something," said Hughes. "I've been here long enough, and that was one thing I wanted to do. "We came close but just didn't make it. It's very disappointing that never happened, not just for the team but for the city and the fans. But there's been a lot more highs than lows and I've really enjoyed my time here."

United boss is in Dyer need Graeme Souness has revealed that persuading Kieron Dyer to sign a new contract at Newcastle United will be just as important as attracting exciting new faces to St James's Park this summer. Souness' handling of Dyer has been one of the biggest successes of his time as manager, with the England international finally finding the consistency to match his talent. Dyer has arguably had his best ever season in the black-and-white stripes, despite starting the campaign as public enemy number one following his refusal to play on the right wing on the opening day of the season at Middlesbrough. As a result, Souness, whose carefully handling of a complex personality has been crucial in extracting the best from him on the pitch, is keen to build his new-look United around the 26-year-old. But, with Dyer entering the final year of his contract - he will be allowed to negotiate a Bosman-style free transfer in January if he does not sign a new deal - Souness has admitted for the first time that United could lose a player who has always provoked widely different reactions during a colourful career on Tyneside. "I've enjoyed working with Kieron Dyer over the last seven or eight months and I've been very pleased with his contribution on the pitch," said Souness, who has steadfastly defended Dyer, even when his infamous on-pitch brawl with Lee Bowyer against Aston Villa brought renewed calls for him to be sacked last month. "He has probably been our best player this season and I've had no problems with him at all. He has played well in whatever position he has been asked to play. We know about his contract situation, we're aware of what it could mean. We know he only has a year left and he can sign for other clubs after Christmas. We don't want that to happen. "I've told the chairman I want to keep him. You want to keep your best players and Kieron Dyer is one of those. We want to get him sorted out with another contract, but it is up to the chairman to handle that side of things." While Souness has placed great importance on keeping Dyer, he admitted he has not discussed the issue with the player directly. Souness, though, knows the club will not allow the former Ipswich star to run down his contract and leave for nothing in 12 months time and will seek early assurances from the player - who is already one of the club's top earners on £55,000 a week - that he wants to stay. Dyer has already been linked with a possible swap deal to bring either Manchester United's Alan Smith or Chelsea's Scott Parker to the North-East. However, The Journal understands that Dyer is open-minded about his future and is willing to stay on Tyneside, if United can prove they are capable of moving in the right direction again following a disastrous 12 months. In turn, Souness has insisted it is up to the club to prove they they can match the player's ambitions, something he hopes to do when he makes his first summer signings in the next couple of weeks. "It isn't our main priority at the moment, but it will be later in the summer," explained Souness, who could also face a fight to hold on to Shay Given following the goalkeeper's admission that he is worried about the direction Newcastle have headed since last summer. "Contracts will be discussed once we have made a few signings and players like Kieron can see the calibre of players we're going to have next season. He will see that our ambition matches his when he sees the players we are going to sign." Dyer will be offered a pivotal offensive role in Souness' restructured side. With Craig Bellamy's departure imminent, Souness believes Dyer is a more than able replacement for the Welsh international, particularly as he has dramatically improved his finishing. Souness added: "Kieron has scored regularly for me since I've been here and that has always been one of the weakest aspects of his game in the past. "I'd like to see him in an attacking role. You want him as close to the opposition goal as possible." Meanwhile, Tottenham's reported interest in Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas appears doomed to failure. The ambitious London club is said to be preparing an offer of cash plus United target Robbie Keane for the 22-year-old. But, while Graeme Souness is eager to add Republic of Ireland striker Keane to his revamped front line next term, the Scot has already publicly stated Jenas is not for sale. And with Keane apparently enthusiastic about the idea of a move to St James's Park, Newcastle would appear to hold all the aces.

Shepherd's distraught Freddy Shepherd last night opened his heart on his most difficult season as Newcastle chairman. The St James's Park supremo insisted he has been as distraught as any fan at United's under-performing players during a difficult league campaign . . . So much so that he admitted: "I could have run onto that pitch and strangled them!" But Shepherd refuses to describe the season just gone as a failure, insisting United's involvement in 19 cup ties was both a tribute to Souness' side and a decisive drain on Newcastle's stamina for the Premiership campaign. "It's a case of 'hold our hands up'. We've done well in the cups and all their extra games made the season a bit of a grind, but we should have done better in the league," said Shepherd. "We will be bringing players in. As a Geordie, I know what the fans want and will be doing everything to get it. "It has taken Graeme a season to deal with the problems he inherited. There were specific problems in the dressing-room, but those will be sorted out once and for all this summer with certain players coming and going." And while the chairman does expect to sell Craig Bellamy this summer he admitted there is, theoretically at least, a way back for the Welshman at St James's Park. "If he threw himself on the floor and said sorry, we might look bad if we didn't accept the apology," said Shepherd.

Shola plea to Souness Shola Ameobi has insisted he does not want to be part of Graeme Souness' summer clear-out at Newcastle United. The striker's season ended in ignominy at Goodison Park when he was dismissed for striking Everton's Tim Cahill, and Ameobi still has two games of his three-match suspension to serve at the start of next season. It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season for Ameobi, who ended the campaign with seven goals. Now Souness is rebuilding his team for a make-or-break season and already Patrick Kluivert and Aaron Hughes have left St James' Park, while Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert are among those expected to follow them through the door. Along with Kluivert, Jamie McClen and Stephen Brennan have also been released by the club over the weekend. But Ameobi, who has undergone an operation on his long-term hip injury since the Everton game, is not seeking pastures new and instead is determined to fight for a place as the Magpies look to re-establish themselves among the Premiership elite. "I've said all along that I don't want to be going anywhere," said Ameobi. "There is always speculation at the end of every season, but my heart is in Newcastle and I want to help the club win a trophy. "We came close again this season in the FA and UEFA Cups but it wasn't meant to be. "But hopefully I will be here next season. Hopefully the gaffer finds it right for me to be here and I can help Newcastle achieve something." Souness, however, will bring in at least one forward this summer, having already persuaded Alan Shearer to play on and offered Michael Chopra a one-year extension. Meanwhile, third-choice goalkeeper Tony Caig is also expected to be offered a short-term new deal.

Owen gets the fans vote as Toon's target Michael Owen is the player most Newcastle United fans would like to see arrive at St James' Park over the summer. Almost one third of the fans who took part in our end-of-season poll went for Owen as their No. 1 transfer target, even though the England striker has insisted today that he wants to stay at Real Madrid. United fans are split exactly 50-50 on whether Craig Bellamy should ever pull on a black-and-white shirt again. Souness himself still faces an uphill battle to win over the club's fans, with just 31% convinced he can turn the club's fortunes around according to our survey. A large chunk of supporters who responded (23%) say they do not plan to renew their season tickets, though Souness's summer signings could yet sway them, while a majority back Alan Shearer's decision to play on for one last season. It's Al right by us if you play on Alan Shearer's decision to play on in black and white is backed by Newcastle United fans in our end-of-season poll. Manager Graeme Souness won his battle to persuade his captain to stay on - and 56% of supporters say Shearer was right to commit himself to a 10th season at St James' Park. Shearer, who ended the campaign with 19 goals leaving him eight short of Jackie Milburn's all-time record, was also third in our best player category, with goalkeeper Shay Given claiming more than half of your total votes (51%) following another outstanding season. Bellamy was second, with 14%, and Shearer joint third along with Steven Taylor. That is quite an achievement for Taylor given that it was his breakthrough season, the 19-year-old defender taking advantage of injury to make 21 appearances for the Magpies. Fans were split 50-50 on whether Bellamy, currently on loan at Celtic, should be allowed to return. Nicky Butt was voted the most disappointing player by fans (40%), closely following by another of Sir Bobby Robson's summer signings, Patrick Kluivert (30%). Titus Bramble's outstanding form in the second half of the season was recognised, with the defender being voted the most improved player (43%). Taylor was second (33%) and James Milner, who showed what he could do late in the season when he was handed a run in the team, was third (8%). Supporters remain sceptical of Souness' management, however, with 61% believing he cannot turn the club around, 31% believing he can and 9% undecided. Newcastle's win over Chelsea in the FA Cup at St James' was voted the best game of the season (45%), followed by the thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City (22%). The remarkable 3-1 away victory at Olympiakos was third (15%). The worst game was the 4-1 away defeat at Sporting Lisbon which sent United tumbling out of the UEFA Cup at the quarter final stage, closely followed by the FA Cup semi final defeat to Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium (26%). And the home loss to Aston Villa, which saw Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer both dismissed for fighting, was a close third (23%). Out-of-favour Robert's free-kick against Liverpool at St James' was rated the best goal of the season (29%), with Darren Ambrose's piledriver at Bolton Wanderers second (24%) and Kluivert's FA Cup goal against Chelsea third (6%). Michael Owen (29%) is the Toon Army's top summer transfer target, though he would take some persuading to give up Champions League football at Real Madrid, while Andy Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips were joint second (8%). Johnson did not score against the Magpies last season, but his goals for relegated Crystal Palace clearly caught the eye. And Wright-Phillips' strikes at St James' for both Man City and England saw his stock rise.

United eye-up Fulham winger Newcastle United are hoping to take advantage of a clause in the contract of Luis Boa Morte, as Graeme Souness continues to hunt down one of his long-term transfer targets. United were first linked with the Fulham winger, pictured right, back in January but, although they were confident they could entice the player away from Craven Cottage during the mid-season transfer window, they were stunned when, rather than move to the North-East, Boa Morte signed a new five-year contract. That, though, has not deterred Souness who has since discovered that the Portuguese international has a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to another Premiership club if a certain figure is bid for him, thought to be in the region of £3.5m. Boa Morte - who is also interesting Liverpool - was persuaded not to leave the Cottagers by manager Chris Coleman because Fulham were still facing a potential relegation battle. But, at 27 and with more than 150 appearances for Fulham, he has suggested he is ready for a new challenge, something Souness will certainly be able to offer him as he attempts to rebuild a United side which has just endured its worst Premiership campaign. The former Arsenal man is in the Portuguese squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Estonia, which would appear to have delayed the prospect of finalising a quick deal for a player who is seen by Souness as the ideal replacement for the out-going Laurent Robert. Robert has once again expressed his confidence that he will easily find a new club this summer having been frozen out by Souness, although it remains to be seen whether Newcastle will get the £4m they are looking to sell him for. United, though, may still try to complete their first summer signing before the end of the week with their other top transfer target Robbie Keane due back from holiday tomorrow. The Tottenham Hotspur striker has also attracted the interest of Everton and United will face a difficult task to persuade the Republic of Ireland international that a move to Newcastle and an Intertoto Cup outing in mid-July is better than a switch to Goodison Park and a qualifier for the Champions League. Nevertheless, with international colleagues Shay Given, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien already at St James's Park, there are those within the Newcastle camp who remain confident Keane will choose Tyneside ahead of Merseyside. Keane has told friends that he is excited about the prospect of lining up alongside Alan Shearer in his final season as a player. With Chelsea's Scott Parker and Manchester United's Alan Smith also in Souness' sights, Newcastle's transfer activity is gathering pace. But, while Smith has already insisted he intends to remain at Old Trafford, United might consider turning to his Red Devils team-mate Louis Saha. Saha has already been linked with a return to London with Charlton, but the French international, who has rarely started since his £12m move to Manchester from Fulham in January 2004, has already spent a loan spell with Newcastle during Ruud Gullit's time as manager.

SPL: Will Gordon tune into CB again? With confirmation that Martin O'Neill's final game in charge of Celtic will be this Saturday's Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United, it remains to be seen whether Craig Bellamy will also make his final appearance for the Hoops in the same game. Given his apparent refusal to move to Aston Villa, the chances of Bellamy remaining in Scotland seem slight, even if the Glasgow club could fund a permanent deal. If the striker were to sign on at Parkhead though, he'd be reunited with Gordon Strachan, once his manager at Coventry City and now named as Martin O'Neill's successor. Having spent the last season as a media pundit, Strachan has inevitably ended up passing comment on the Bellamy sideshow. This including the following piece from the Guardian in January, in which he demonstrated that he seems to have the Welshman sussed - but may not be too bothered if he never had to manage him again...... "During the year Craig spent at Coventry I have to say he was never a bother to me. I had players who kept me up at night but he wasn't among them. On the training field he was a great lad to coach. I think I might have had him in my office once and it was over and done with in 30 seconds. "Craig has a lot going for him but he needs to learn that, for all the weapons he has - pace, goals, hunger and a great engine - what you need most as a footballer is your team-mates with you and the respect of people round about you: the manager, coaches and players. "They are your biggest weapons in being successful and what holds Craig back sometimes is his relationship with those three parties. Every top player I know is a right good lad and no problem to deal with and it looks as if Craig has got to be more player-friendly, manager-friendly and coach-friendly. "Those people don't have to like you but they need to respect you. Then if you make a mistake they'll cover for you. If you have a problem off the field they'll look after you and you'll be part of the group. There becomes a bond between you and the rest of the team. "I'm not suggesting there's no bond between Craig and the players at Newcastle. I'm not there so I can't know that. But in my experience the problem for Craig was the way he got on with players. He wasn't very political and his interactive skills could be better. "Craig swears a lot, for example. That's not just him on the field, it's the way he speaks all the time. Also at Coventry he didn't understand that not everybody is as good as him. A lot of players are like that when they're young. They think: How can he not do that or how has he not seen my run? But not everybody has that vision or ability. You have to be able to talk to your team-mates. "Craig did annoy the players at Coventry now and then with his bickering but you laughed at him after a while. Then he grumbled even more, but it wasn't a big deal. "When any player grumbles you can turn it on them and have a laugh at their expense. I might say something like "It's a bad time of the month for him." It just needed a light-hearted comment so everybody knew Craig wasn't at his best and we had to get on with it. "Craig was gobby with plenty of people but then smaller lads generally are. He always talks a lot but the trouble at the moment is he seems to be saying things that will alienate him from the coaching staff and supporters at Newcastle. "The falling-out seems to be about the position he's playing in. But if Craig wants to be at Newcastle he has to put up with certain things. You can't have the world being great for you all the time. "It's not as if Graeme Souness has picked two strikers and asked Craig to play on the wing. Newcastle are playing with one striker and then him on one wing and somebody else on the other side. "I played Craig wide lots of times at Coventry and he had some wonderful games there. I said to him that if it went wrong I'd take the blame because I pick the team and the system. He was OK but he was a young man then and wanted matches. "He was also a great trainer. He loved to get information, whether it was about his game, somebody else's game or the game in general. He's a decent student of the game and intelligent enough to pick up things that you pass on. I also found him an honest fellow. I felt that if you talked to him you were all right. "In this situation at Newcastle the only person Craig will really harm in the long term is himself. Newcastle will survive, Graeme will survive and football in Britain will survive without Craig. But he needs football. It's the one thing he really likes doing."

Baros tops Toon wanted list Fri 27 May, 11:52 AM Graeme Souness wants Liverpool's Milan Baros to lead the line with Alan Shearer in the Newcastle veteran's last season at St James' Park. Czech hitman Baros is currently basking in the glory of the Reds' Champions League victory. Advertisement But Anfield chief Rafael Benitez has made it perfectly clear he does not figure the 23-year-old in his revolution plans for the new kings of Europe. Baros has fallen out of favour after continually moaning about being substituted or placed on the bench - and is likely to fall behind Djibril Cisse and Fernando Morientes if he stays on Merseyside next season. That has led to Magpies boss Souness putting Baros at the top of his summer shopping list, as he will not take the option of a further year with Patrick Kluivert and is keen to get troublesome striker Craig Bellamy off the club's books permanently. Baros' pace and guile would be the perfect foil for Shearer, who has delayed his retirement for one final campaign with the Magpies. But Souness will face stiff competition for his signature, with Spanish giants Valencia also keen on the £6m-rated star, who signed for the Reds from Banik Ostrava in December 2001.

Chopra in plea to Souness Thu 26 May, 3:37 PM Newcastle striker Michael Chopra is urging Graeme Souness to offer him the chance to prove he can score goals at the highest level. The 21-year-old has made just 11 appearances for his hometown club since signing professional terms in January 2001, and has yet to score. But after hitting 17 goals while on loan at Barnsley last season, Chopra has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension, suggesting Souness is looking towards using him next season. With Craig Bellamy seemingly certain to leave St James' Park and Patrick Kluivert already departed, Newcastle could go into their Intertoto Cup campaign in July with skipper Alan Shearer, Shola Ameobi and Chopra his only options in attack and Chopra is ready to rise to the challenge. "I have always had confidence in my ability and I know I can score goals at this club," he said. "I proved in the academy and the reserves I am a goalscorer. "I have proved that with Watford and with Barnsley. I am confident of my ability in the Premiership, and if I am given the opportunity, I am sure I will be able to score goals."

Shepherd: No Magpie Bargains Wed 25 May, 8:09 AM Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted he will get the balance right as he attempts to rid the club of its troublemakers and under-achievers. Advertisement Shepherd finally lost patience with the rebellious Craig Bellamy after his infamous bust-up with manager Graeme Souness in January and sent him out on loan to Celtic after he turned down a permanent move to Birmingham. Aston Villa have since entered the race for his signature and, although there have been suggestions that the chairman's attitude is softening towards the Welshman, Souness remains adamant that he cannot return. With Patrick Kluivert having already left, Laurent Robert and Hugo Viana almost certain to follow and question marks hanging over the likes of Nicky Butt, Lee Bowyer and Celestine Babayaro, there are certain to be major changes in personnel in the weeks ahead, although Shepherd wants full value for his club's expensively-acquired assets. "Problems can disappear by walking out the door, as we all know, but assets can walk out of the door as well, so you have got to get the right balance," he told PA Sport. Souness has promised wholesale changes, provided that he can offload his misfits and persuade his targets to head for Tyneside, and is looking forward to stamping his mark on the club. His reign to date has received mixed reviews on Tyneside, with 61% of fans polled by a local paper on Tuesday voicing the opinion that he will not turn the club around. However, Shepherd remains convinced he is the right man for the job and is enjoying working with him despite the problems they have encountered. "Very much," he said. "He is very much a man's man, as everybody knows, and very much a players' man. "I have worked with Kevin (Keegan), Kenny (Dalglish), Ruud (Gullit), (Sir) Bobby (Robson) and now Graeme, none of them shrinking violets, so you have to - put it this way - remind them who the boss is at various times." Robson, who was dismissed in August last year as his five-year spell in charge came to an end, was always going to be a hard act to follow after dragging the club from the depths of the Barclays Premiership into the top three and the Champions League, and Souness is aware that he has taken on a unique job. Shepherd too knows that the Scot will have to work hard to earn the fans' affection, something which came automatically to the former England boss. Robson was devastated to be relieved of his duties just four games into what would have been his last season with the club in any case, and a lengthy wrangle over his pay-off followed. However, Shepherd retains immense respect for the man he appointed as Gullit's successor in September 1999. "Bobby is Bobby," he said. "He is the elder statesman of football and I enjoyed working with him. I never, ever fell out with Bobby Robson."

Souness' challenge May 27 2005 By Luke Edwards, The Journal Graeme Souness faces the toughest challenge of his career to regain the full backing of Newcastle United's disillusioned supporters, according to a Journal survey. Souness' first season in charge has been labelled a failure, with 80% of those surveyed insisting his opening campaign at St James's Park was poor or below average. United slipped to their lowest-ever finish in the Premiership last season, with Souness falling out with two of the club's most popular players, Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert. As a result, almost half of those supporters taking part in the Journal survey believe the Scot is the wrong man for the job, while another 23% believe it is only a matter of time before he is sacked, unless there is a dramatic improvement in results. A third claimed Souness' biggest success had been to persuade Alan Shearer to postpone his retirement. And while 52% welcomed his decision to hand valuable experience to some of the club's young players, much of the criticism directed at him has been fierce. More than 45% slammed his inability to get on with creative players like Bellamy and Robert and 47% believe his confrontational management style is his biggest weakness. Souness has also been heavily criticised for failing to qualify for Europe with the squad he inherited from Sir Bobby Robson, as well as his tactical inflexibility. Nevertheless, the anti-Souness feeling has not swayed the board's conviction that he is the right man for the job. And with the memory of Rafael Benetiz's lifting of the European Cup with Liverpool fresh in the mind, just six months after he was the subject of bitter criticism on Merseyside, United chairman Freddie Shepherd is willing to give Souness the time and resources to try and bring some overdue success to St James's Park. Having pledged to back their manager fully this summer in the transfer market as he attempts to rebuild the Newcastle team to his own design, the club's board have also appealed for fans to look at the mitigating circumstances when assessing the effectiveness of the former Scotland international. A club statement in response to The Journal's Fans' Feeling survey said: "We read the responses to the Journal survey with interest and would like to assure our fans that we do listen to what they have to say. "The chairman has already gone on record stating that the on-field performances of certain players was not up to an acceptable standard and we would be looking for significant improvement in the future. "But the manager has to be given time to do the job he was brought here to do, and not be judged on part of a season. "He has been beset with off-field events which were not of his own making and it is worth remembering that whilst finishing 14th in the Premier League is disappointing, he is the first manager in the club's history to keep the club in two major cup competitions until April, which in itself could be considered a success. "The board will continue to back its manager, as it has done with previous managers, to ensure the best interests of the club and its supporters are top of everyone's agenda." It remains to be seen just how much money is made available to Souness in the next three months and the Scot has so far been frustrated in his efforts to complete the signings of Fulham winger Luis Boa Morte and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. The club's supporters, though, would be most impressed should the Magpies land England striker Michael Owen, although 22% would also like to see Nolberto Solano return to the North-East. And the club have dropped a heavy hint that around £20m will be made available to Souness, a kitty which could be topped up even more should he bring in enough money from the sale of Bellamy, Robert and Hugo Viana. The statement said: "Remember over £20m was spent last season, £10m by Sir Bobby Robson and £10m by Graeme Souness, in bringing eight new players to the club. "We can never be accused of lacking ambition or assisting the manager in every way possible. "The board and everyone at the club remains 100% committed to bringing success to this great football club. "We are blessed with a unique set of supporters who deserve nothing but the very best. If you live in the past, you die in the past and we have no intention of doing that. "We intend to start the new season with our heads held high, full of confidence, excitement and with ambition."