Shock: Newcastle fans just can't believe they will
be playing in the Championship
If Alan Shearer needed evidence of the mess he had
walked into when he took over as Newcastle
United manager, he had only to study
the club's annual £71 million wage list.
One contract must have stood out among the names of highly paid
millionaires without a care in the world, and certainly not a care
about Newcastle United: Xisco, a six-year contract, £50,000 a week
(no relegation clause), a deal which will cripple any prospective
Championship club.
The Spain Under 21 international striker was one of Dennis
Wise's many dubious summer signings, added to the Newcastle squad
without Kevin Keegan's knowledge while the then manager was
preparing what he had thought was his squad during pre-season.
Counting the cost: Newcastle players react after
relegation at Villa on Sunday
He had never heard of the Xisco Kid, but he wasn't
alone. Then again, it was clear he had never heard of Fabricio
Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez or Ignacio Gonzalez either.
After the £8 million flop that was Albert Luque, you would have
thought even a new Newcastle United board would have learned the
lessons of signing Spanish strikers from Deportivo La Coruna. But
apparently not. And now Mike Ashley must pay a very heavy
price.
Xisco made his Newcastle debut against Hull City, one of only
three league starts he made all season. And he even scored in that
shock 2-1 defeat to the rampant Tigers that September afternoon.
Well, the ball hit him from a rebound off the post and crept over
the line.
That was the day the fans turned on Ashley and his Cockney Mafia
and they were warned to stay away from St James's Park.
The players, Xisco included, were called in for a brief meeting
with Shearer and Iain Dowie at nine thirty yesterday morning. They
departed with strict new fitness regimes for their summer break and
were told to report back for pre-season training on July 1, even
though it was also made quite clear that they will not all be
Newcastle United players by then.
With the possible exception of Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor, none
of the players have relegation clauses, so no one, not even Joey
Barton, can be expected to quit the club without a pay-off, and
there are certainly no plans among the players to take a pay-cut,
no matter what soundbites they produce about loyalty and
devastation.
Damien Duff and Steven Taylor, two of the few assets, say they
want to stay.
They want Shearer to do the same if Newcastle is to have any
chance of returning next season.Duff said: `I am as loyal as they
come - whether the gaffer stays or not - but if there is one man to
get us back up it is the gaffer.
And Taylor added: 'It is starting to sink in now we are a
Championship team and we have to deal with it.'I know there are
going to be changes but we want to be back. We are a Premier League
team so we need to be back up there.'The only person I think can
take us back up is Alan Shearer. He has been fantastic to work with
and let's hope I get the chance to work with him again.'
NICKY BUTT £60,000 a week — a leader who will be needed.
STEVEN TAYLOR £40,000 — a proud Geordie who will want to make
amends.
DANNY GUTHRIE £40,000 — will do well in Championship.
SHOLA AMEOBI £40,000 — Football League is his level.
STEVE HARPER £30,000 — deserves a run as No 1.
RYAN TAYLOR £30,000 — should pick up in lower level.
MICHAEL OWEN £105,000 — out of contract, needs a new club.
DAMIEN DUFF £70,000 — says he wants to stay (yeah, right).
OBAFEMI MARTINS £70,000 — on the first plane out of Tyneside,
never to be
seen again.
ALAN SMITH £60,000 — strangely has a list of clubs who want
him.
MARK VIDUKA £60,000 — Aussie beaches beckon.
GEREMI £60,000 — odds on for a Turkish club who need a 40-plus
player.
JONAS GUTIERREZ £50,000 — cost £5.6m but no use now.
HABIB BEYE £50,000 — one of few to leave with integrity
intact.
IGNACIO GONZALEZ £50,000 — who indeed?
CACAPA £40,000 — one of the worst Brazilians ever.
SEBASTIEN BASSONG £30,000 — one of Newcastle’s few assets.
PETER LOVENKRANDS £20,000 — brief loan spell to end.
KEVIN NOLAN £50,000 — January signing which backfired.
JOEY BARTON £60,000 — who would be mad enough to buy him?
JOSE ENRIQUE £60,000 — cost £6m, which was £6m too much.
FABRICIO COLOCCINI £60,000 — he was frighteningly bad.
XISCO £50,000 — an expensive flop.
