The Sunday Mirror is reporting this morning that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley personally intervened in the final week of the transfer window, to offer Shay Given a new six year contract to remain at Newcastle United.
Steve Harper – will not let Newcastle United down
That contract was worth £50K/week, or about £2.5M per year.
Certainly on the night before the Man City game, Ashley met one-on-one with Given’s lawyer to try to resolve the situation, and it was probably there that the 6 year deal was offered.
Certainly Joe Kinnear didn’t want to lose Shay, and it seems he convinced Mike to offer Shay a new improved contract to stay at Newcastle, but it was too late.
This comes after Shay recently claimed that Newcastle could have done more to keep him at the club.
Joe Kinnear said:
“My conscience is clear over the departure of Shay Given. I did everything in my power to keep him at Newcastle.”
“I went to Mike Ashley and the board and asked them to make Shay a really good offer. “
“The outcome was we were willing to pay him £50,000 a week, for six years. That would have taken him to 39.”
“We were also willing to give him a role as a goalkeeping coach when he retired. I thought that would have sorted it out but City topped our offer.”
“Long before I took the manager’s job I knew he was one of the best keepers in the world and there was no way that I wanted to lose him.”
“I made my feelings known to the people that run the club but I don’t think his leaving was down to money.”
“If it was then I think the contract he was offered would have been enough to keep him here. It was a very good deal.”
Certainly all of this is consistent with what Joe was saying at the time.
Shay has had his say about Newcastle, and it is probably best that it now end, for the good of all parties.
He’s at Man City now, and our goalkeeper is Steve Harper, who’s had two good games for us, and has always been a good and safe goalkeeper for Newcastle.
We don’t even think we’ll miss Shay and Charles, if things go well through the end of this season.
Then in the summer, depending how Steve does, will decide whether we need a new goalkeeper to challenge Steve – we don’t we do with youngsters Tim Krul and Fraser Forster both waiting in the wings.
Comments welcome.
166 comments so far
The Real Entertainers
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #41Time will tell over the Given sale.
If in 2-3 years time Krul or even Forster arrive on the scene and become quality keepers than it was the right move, as without the sale of Given Krul would have left!
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #42gd point wigaz but the journos always do its a part of being a toon fan also i wouldnt mind bruce either though i also wouldnt mind shearer or aguirre
ObaMartins
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #43I like Krul, seem’s a good prospect for the near Future…
square
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #44the job of the manager in newcastle is to make known what his feelings are haha.
boss i love you what you gonna do about it.
boss i’m not feeling well.
boss i don’t like you selling him full stop.
manager? more like a muppet.
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #45Agree Beye did you see Al on MOTD when asked about given he looked livid. Kind of betrayed like. I think if Buce comes in some of us will be thinking class experienced PL manager making rthe step up to manage a bigger club & some us will think so what. If shearer takes over, the whole city will be buzzing & there will be a full house at SJP. However much my heart would love shearer to come in & take us up the league my head says bruce.
square
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #46i’m going to suggest to si games to incorporate this feature on their future FM games.
a manager with mitigated control of the club specifically newcastle.
then somewhere pops up some person who can get rid of this restriction for someone who wants to play as manager for newcastle.
or wait for a takeover.
Guinea Mag
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Comment #47Don’t understand Shay Given’s comment about Newcastle not doing enough to keep him. He wanted to leave and now he’s a Man City player despite Newcastle’s improved offer.
I wish him well, but needs to stop knocking our club…..
batty
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Comment #48Guinea Mag shay given said the club made do things he didnt want to do i take it as he didnt want to leave
batty
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Comment #49he hasent knocked the club he,s just mentioned the rigeme
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Comment #50wigaz yeah shearer i think held back a little i like bruce and i know people say hes only a geordie when he wants to be but who cares as ;long as the team do a good job the only question i would have of shearers managerial abilities is his signings which ofcourse bruce has proved quality though a foreign manager is more likely as i dont think either would want to manage under MA
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Comment #51GUINEA MAG
he isnt knocking our club hes knocking our owners there is a difference
batty
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Comment #52thank you beye
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Comment #53batty
the club to me involves the fans history players achievements tradition and stadium not some 1 who has been protested against though the protests could be considered part of our history
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Comment #54Making good sense Beye. I do think Al would have pull in transfer market especially with Attacking players. Also If he took over i think he would bid for Ashton & Woodgate? Just my opinion but i think he would. However who’s to say bruce wouldn’t do the same or buy in zaki & valencia? I do think either one would be like a breath of fresh air.
NE3 NICK
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #55It’s a bit of a tough one regarding Shay. He is a top shot stopper, but not the best at commanding his box. Harper is an able deputy.
His leaving left a bit of a sour taste if u ask me. I agree with Little Willie. He was agitating for a move. The question is, do u blame him???
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #56ne3nick
i dis agree did u nt see him yesterday
batty
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Comment #57beyethegreat // Feb 8, 2009 at 1:32 PM
batty
the club to me involves the fans history players achievements tradition and stadium not some 1 who has been protested against though the protests could be considered part of our history
spot on m8
Jan Stavik
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #58Probably another lie from Kinnear, I have no faith in what he says.
As Shay said himself, the club was more keen on getting the money for him than to keep him, thats the fact here.
And now we are stuck with poor-mans-Given in the goal, hopefully Krul can step up so it won’t cost us in the future.
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #59I def think Krul is going to be world class like & Having Harper Krul & FF show’s why we were right to sell given. The only prob is we didn’t reinvest the £8m in another quality player.
NE3 NICK
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Comment #60See who. Given or Harper? I saw them both. Shay is mint at shot stopping and one on ones. No debate, but he is too short and therefore nervous at defending crosses.
I am not sure that Harper is the answer long term, but we appear to have some great, taller keepers in Krul, Forster ans Soderberg coming thru.
NE3 NICK
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #61Spot on Wigaz (59)
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Comment #62wigaz he probz would have a go for ashton they are simillar players both old fashioned cf
the only thing i will say though as i dont want shearer as manager withthis owner
but
owner:the fans
chairman:?
manager:shearer
assistent:lee
str coach:sir les
mid coach:speed and solano
def coach:albert and?
keeper coach: paul barronhe is an immense keepercoach if not him then eventually given or harper
scouts
france:ginola
south america:
tino
holland:gullit (lol)
eastern europe: emre and srnicek
belgium italy spain etc:wise
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Comment #63swap wise for sibierski
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Comment #64Beye that would be class mate. I’ll be happy with either bruce or shearer myself, people have their own choices but i dont think it’s a coincedence that our best two managers (Bobby & KK) were from the area & understood what the club means to not just the fans but the city. Going local is the best way to go folks.
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Comment #65wigaz like i say i agree just not under fat ash
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Comment #66Maybe Fat Ash has seen sense & thought he better sort out the mess he’s created? Wouldn’t be class if he got rid of all his twats & let one of those 2 run the club like a manger should & maybe put someone like David dein in charge of upper level board stuff.
workyticket
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #67Wigaz, Keegan comes from Doncaster, so he isn’t “from the area”.
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #68wigaz it would be but with the money fat ash is willing to spend i doubt he could take us to where we wanna go i would love either inchrge but for me it would have to be the right time
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Comment #69Worky true but his dad was a mag wasn’t he & bred him on NUFC who he used to watch as a kid so he did have the knowledge as i said. Beye I agree with you. We do £££ injection & i still have doubts MA is the man to do that. We still dont know whats happening tho do we? there could be new owners lined up & have either Bruce or Al as their man? We shall wait & See. One thing’s for sure if JFK cannot continue his dutys as Boss we need to get Bruce or Shearer in ASAP.
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #70i hope new owners do come in and have either of the 2 lined up but i dont want either in this current regime and ndeither would come a realistic option for me is aguirre
workyticket
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Comment #71Wigaz, Keegan’s parents were Irish. That story is a bit of a myth. Tony Blair also used to claim that his dad used to take him regularly to see Jack Milburn when he was a child, that was cobblers too!
beyethegreat
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Comment #72http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWY2B9wS4c4
Dingo†®
Feb 8, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Comment #73. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2cIDXmNYpQ
Tommy_PA
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Comment #74By putting in a transfer request he made the deal, giving up certain payments that meant more money rolling into NUFC’s coffers. I suspect that helped MA accept the MCFC valuation, or at least made it a less bitter pill to swallow.
Anyway, I subscribe to the theory that a long term loyal servant of NUFC is more likely to give me the truth than the current board/management regime.
Personally I don’t think anyone who voiced discontent with the management after Keegan left will be around after the end of the season. I think all of them will be sold or encouraged to leave, if they have not already.
Anyway I didn’t think Harper was up to par yesterday, Shay would have done better I think as he seems to move more quickly across the goal, but the second I don’t think Shay would have done any better. Having said that the cover Harper was given was shocking at times.
batty
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Comment #75WORKYTICKET get your facts right kevin keegans dad was born in newcastle his grandfather was in the stanley burns mine disaster his ancesters were irish
Wigaz
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Comment #76Well in batty. I thought he was like.
Toon Chicken
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Comment #77Haha – Spurs are sheet!!!
We’ve been coinging it in while they’ve been pishing money left right and centre and they’re STILL below us!
Great job arry you stoopid cnut!
gozzie4
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Comment #78I believe Harper is a decent keeper – that’s it. I don’t think he is a Premierleague No.1 GK however. I think we need to invest in another world class keeper – we have proved this season how vital a good keeper is (especially with our defence).
I suggest – Boruc from Celtic or Akinfeev from CSKA. Only problme with the Akinfeev is I doubt he’ll speak english… which is a shame as he will be one of the worlds best goalies in future years!
craig s chisholm
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Comment #79obamartins, yes mate, i know alot about footy and and esp our team, far more than you i expect. shay given was all about himself, he was never a team player, when he went out injured and we had stevie in the goal we won more points last season and thats a fact. when given came back he was like a baby with a slppaed arse and said ‘play me or sell me’. now he has gone again, do you think we honestly look any worse off without him, bearing in mind we have not lost yet and have tqken 4 out of 6 points?? Our defence unit looks better and more happy with given gonew, the man could not organise his lines. someone else once said 9i think it might have been ryantoon), given is a world class stopper but not a world class keeper. that is right. all you lot bleating on about given, he’s left, and has done nothing but take pot shots at us since he left too. fck given.
DanToon
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Comment #80Roberto Martínez is a young health European with a lot of English influence! Perfect choice I think. Anyone agree?