NEWCASTLE // Freddy Shepherd last night delivered two pieces of advice for Mike Ashley - "stop being a cry-baby, and reinstate Kevin Keegan as Newcastle manager before you sell the club". Ashley has announced his intention to quit Newcastle, less than 16 months after taking his initial steps in the takeover which eventually resulted in Shepherd's departure as chairman.
With the Ashley era appearing set to falter following the shock resignation of manager Kevin Keegan last week, Shepherd has taken issue with the current owner's remarks about the amount of his personal fortune he has had to put into the club. Sports goods billionaire Ashley invested £134.4million (Dh882m) to buy out the Hall family, but it is the ongoing costs since then which have apparently come as a surprise.
"What he paid for the club would not have bought half the stadium. He got a great deal," Shepherd told Sky Sports. "As far as the money is concerned, he should take the advice he is giving - and stop being a cry-baby. He seems to be whingeing, but ... he should take his own advice." Shepherd also divulged he has already been approached by two consortiums preparing bids for Newcastle - but has decided such a move is not for him, at the moment.
Asked about his own inclinations to become involved again, he added: "Never say never." Shepherd added: "I will take a bet we have not heard the last of Kevin Keegan," he claimed. "I would definitely bring Kevin back. He is the guy for the job, the right guy to run the business." Meanwhile, Chelsea officials have reportedly told their London rivals that Clarke can join them if they pay-up the remaining two years of his salary, understood to be worth £600,000-per year, contrary to suggestions that chief executive Peter Kenyon had initially demanded a substantial sum of £4.8million to release the long-serving Scot.
Clarke, 45, tendered his resignation last Friday after 20 years of service to Chelsea, a day after Zola was appointed as Alan Curbishley's successor. Chelsea refused to accept Clarke's request and yesterday he was placed on gardening leave until the situation between the two clubs is resolved. * PA Sport
