Shepherd challenges Owen to pledge
his loyalty
Michael Owen's position at Newcastle has come under scrutiny after
the public emergence of a £9m get-out clause in his contract. The
uncertainty over the striker's commitment to Newcastle, which has
been present ever since the day he arrived at St James' Park, has
increased markedly with the revelation of the clause and the
chairman, Freddy Shepherd, last night challenged the striker to
pledge his future to the club.
"I'm telling Michael he has two choices," said Shepherd. "He either
comes out and tells our fans, who have taken him to their hearts,
that he is happy here or I tell him that not one of the big four
clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, are
interested in him. Because that's the case. The loyalty this club
has shown him over the last two years when he had injury problems
in his first season and has missed virtually all of this season
deserves something in return."
Having played in only 14 Newcastle games since his £17.5m transfer
from Real Madrid in August 2005, Owen has expressed "guilt" about
his metatarsal and knee ligament injuries blighting his Newcastle
career but there has been no definitive statement from him that he
will be a Newcastle player in August. There is an expectation
inside and outside the club that Owen will feel a sense of moral
obligation towards Newcastle after they rehabilitated him following
his knee injury at last year's World Cup and paid more than half of
his weekly wage of £115,000. But, while the forward has talked of
his guilt at missing about 16 of the 21 months he has been on
Tyneside, there has been no confirmation from the player that he
will stay for next season.
Newcastle fans would like to hear Owen say he will be at St James'
regardless of offers this summer. In Saturday's match programme
Owen responded to a question about his future by saying he would
"hopefully play and score more goals for Newcastle United"; but he
did not use the words "next season".
Owen said in October in an after-dinner speech: "In terms of how
long I stay at Newcastle, I'm here as long as everybody wants me. I
had four years on my contract when I signed last year, so I would
say at least that length of time and then you'd have to ask the
chairman for the rest."
Newcastle would like to hear something comparable now as would,
presumably, Sam Allardyce, the former Bolton manager, who is
expected to be announced as Glenn Roeder's successor next week,
although it is understood no contract has been signed and there are
prolonged discussions over the make-up and size of Allardyce's
potential backroom staff.
