We remember during our first relegation season 2008-2009 after Kevin Keegan had suddenly left the club because he had been double-crossed by Mike Ashley and the Director of Football Dennis Wise related to two transfers he knew nothing about.
And one shock was that Shay Given became so disenchanted with the Newcastle owner that he wanted a transfer and Manchester City – then being managed by Mark Hughes – wanted him.
The deal dragged on during January and of course Newcastle fans wanted to keep our star player but eventually, the deal was struck for £2M.
And the rest is history – backup Steve Harper came in and did well but we were still relegated for the first time from the Premier League.
Shay Given – while Newcastle’s goalkeeper
Here’s Shay Given, speaking exclusively to 888sport:
“At the time I left the club were selling all of their best players and getting free transfers in and there seemed to be no leadership at the club.”
“The club I joined all those years ago was challenging for the Premier League and now it was bobbing along with no direction.”
“It just wasn’t the club that I joined and when Manchester City came in it was an opportunity to go to an ambitious club that wanted to go up the league and challenge for trophies.”
“I wanted to be part of that.”
“I wanted to go at the time and Manchester City wanted me and I think deep down Mike Ashley wanted to sell me but he was holding on for the best price which he was entitled to do.”
“But I had a 10% sell-on clause in my contract if I didn’t ask for a transfer request. He squeezed every penny out of the deal and then told me if I didn’t sign the transfer request I wasn’t going anywhere.”
“So I gave up 10% of the fee and then it was released to the press that I’d put in a request and there was nothing they could do to keep me.”
“It was a double-sworded dagger through the heart because I’ve been there eleven and a half years with forty hundred and something games.”
“They had paid one and a half million for me and then quadrupled that after all that service to them. I felt it was dealt with really poorly.”
That doesn’t reflect very well at all on owner Mike Ashley who is still in charge of the Newcastle club.
And Shay – not surprisingly – believes a new owner is vital for the future.
We remember that episode well and it was while people like (Director of Football) Dennis Wise were still at the club and Sir Bobby Robson was attending the Newcastle games just six months before he passed away with cancer.
Read the full 888sport interview with Shay Given, including his thoughts on why a new owner is absolutely key to Newcastle’s progression.
Comments welcome.
136 comments so far
lochinvar
May 11, 2018 at 6:48 AM
Comment #121Everton are lining up a £25m move for Newcastle defender and captain Jamaal Lascelles, 24.
Well they can dream on.
lochinvar
May 11, 2018 at 6:54 AM
Comment #122Lindisfarne@118
Swansea are looking for that young dynamic type of manager spparently so are linked with Coleman because he’s Welsh ?
Breathtaking thinking
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Comment #123They were saying on Total Sport last night and I’ve been saying this for years. Football has to be the only sport where you can be made a multi millionaire from being continually sacked. Hughes, Pulis, Pardew and now Swansea want Coleman after the job he’s just done at Blunderland!!
lochinvar
May 11, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Comment #124Last week the pundits wanted Kennedy sent off yet last night when Noble tried to scratch Pogba’s eyes out it was apparently just a lovers tiff. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the last minutes of the game it’s should have been red.
Jib
May 11, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Comment #125There are a few clubs linked with our captain
Spurs fancy him as well
lochinvar
May 11, 2018 at 7:01 AM
Comment #126Jail@123
Not forgetting the esteemed Mr. Allardyce the whiter than white former England Manager
Lindisfarne
May 11, 2018 at 7:04 AM
Comment #127Jesper
I guess we have been “Joselued”!!!
Lindisfarne
May 11, 2018 at 7:06 AM
Comment #128Don’t forget Multi-millionairre Manager Moyes
Jib
May 11, 2018 at 7:06 AM
Comment #129Loch
Here’s a dream for you
Inter Milan’s 25 year old
Argentinian captain
The striker Mauro Icardi
(his strike rate is better
than Ronaldo or countryman
Lionel Messi)
may have to be sold by the
Italian giants under FFP rules.
Valued at £100m he has a release
clause of £75m.
C’mon Mike you know it makes sense !!!!!
Lindisfarne
May 11, 2018 at 7:07 AM
Comment #130I can see Lascelles going to a top six side, provided the money is right.
Ron Knee
May 11, 2018 at 7:31 AM
Comment #131“Robert Watts, the compiler of The Sunday Times Rich List, said: “They say the surest way to become a millionaire is to start out as a billionaire – and then buy a football club.
““It’s a grim joke that Sunderland owner Ellis Short may not wish to hear right now.””
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 7:57 AM
Comment #132Not sport, I meant occupation
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
May 11, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Comment #133Lindis…you really have to wonder why no one blocked that Joselu transfer citing he’s simply not good enough…
…here look at his track record. It’s a players CV for Christ sake 🙂
A blunder of all blunders…a bit like the appointment of McClaren
Jail for Ashley
May 11, 2018 at 8:11 AM
Comment #134I think with two weeks of the window remaining and a budget of 5M pounds plus wages Joselu was probably the best we could get as was an injured Slimani with two minutes of the window remaining.
It is only testament to Rafa that such idiotic high level mismanagement didn’t truly bite us on the ar$e for the third time in eleven years.
Bianconeri
May 11, 2018 at 8:14 AM
Comment #135How can they say Lascalles to everton,they don’t even know who their manager is next season.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
May 11, 2018 at 8:36 AM
Comment #136Especially because we apparently had a wishlist going into the summer holiday and the window was opened for 2 month…
…lets spend £12M on a kid winger shall we! Rafa is by no means accountable it’s all Ashley and his lackeys