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Opinion

Freddy Shepherd ‘Offer enough money and they are going to come’

9 years ago
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Freddy Shepherd has been having his say about the current goings on at St James’ Park, yet again.

The former Chairman and major shareholder says that if you pay enough money then you can attract anybody to a football club.

Speaking before any chance of Patrick Vieira coming to Newcastle was dismissed earlier today, Shepherd said that United could attract the Arsenal legend if paying him the going rate.

According to media reports, Vieira made clear he wasn’t interested in the NUFC job due to having little or no say in buying and selling players.

Yet Freddy Shepherd says that Mike Ashley ‘isn’t stupid’ and knows he has to buy players this summer in order for the club to bounce back.

Whatever happens, Shepherd says that he really hopes John Carver will still remain in some role, which could have been prophetic from the former Chairman. With rumours today that Carver could even keep the Head Coach job despite only 3 wins in 20 matches, fans now fear the worst.

Amusingly Freddy Shepherd refers to the supporters being the real owners of Newcastle United.

Funny kind of ‘ownership’ that, when it was fans who put all the money in and the Shepherd and Hall families walked away with tens of millions of pounds.

As for the fans? We were left with Mike Ashley thanks to John Hall and Freddy Shepherd passing the club to him, walking away with their final massive payout from their association with the club.

Freddy Shepherd:

“According to the bookies, John (Carver) hasn’t got much of a chance and it is either going to be McClaren or Vieira, though there is still maybe a twist there.

“At the end of the day, will Vieira come? Of course he will come if the money is right, if you offer anyone enough money, then they are going to come and that is what it will boil down to.”

Mike Ashley learns his lesson…

“I’m sure Mike Ashley has learned his lesson, that supporters own the club really. Owners think they own it but at the end of the day it is an institution and supporters own the club, make no mistake about it. I learned that lesson while I was chairman.”

“What has gone on over the last few months saddens anyone connected with Newcastle. To see Newcastle go through such turmoil, and it was turmoil towards the end of the season, was not nice for any supporter to watch it. I just hope he learned his lesson and he comes out fighting and gives the manager his full support and backing.”

Buying players:

 “I had my run-ins with the fans, of course I did, and I’m a Geordie, which to be fair Mike Ashley is not, but it will be interesting to see how he treats this summer because he has to buy players.

“He knows that, he is not stupid. If he doesn’t buy players, does he want to be in the same situation as they were this season? No. Therefore he will have to buy players. I just hope John Carver is kept on in some capacity.”

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