Defiant Shepherd vows to remain at the Newcastle helm

What's the joke? Roeder finds a reason to laugh in training yesterday, but Shepherd stays tight-lipped
14 April 2012

Defiant Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has admitted he has made mistakes but vowed to battle on to see the club through its darkest Premiership period.

Shepherd returned from caring for his sick wife Lorelle in Majorca to face the wrath of Geordie supporters who turned on him after Saturday's home defeat to Sheffield United which saw them fall to joint bottom in the Premiership table.

Yesterday lunchtime he met manager Glenn Roeder, assistant Nigel Pearson, captain Scott Parker and vice captain Shay Given in the Newcastle boardroom for what he described as a 'frank discussion'.

Shepherd was assured there are no splinter groups within the dressing room and the entire squad and management team are united to pull Newcastle's season round.

An hour later, Shepherd sat in the same room overlooking the city centre of his home town, giving a contrite but determined rallying call which may not quell unrest among fans who are concerned at the way the club has been run over his nine year tenure, but which paints a clearer picture of the difficulties he has faced.

Shepherd admitted he was wrong to appoint Graeme Souness two years ago, after he had faced the difficult decision to sack Sir Bobby Robson, but he maintained he has always backed his managers in the transfer market and never interfered with their signings.

As for quitting, the club have been involved in talks with the Jersey-based Belgravia finance consortium for six months, but so far there has not been a firm offer.

Shepherd said if a Tyneside billionaire was prepared to buy the club, he would walk away. "I don't get upset by the protests," he said.

"I love all the supporters because I'm one of them and don't have any problem with Geordies. If things were different I might be with them calling out about someone else.

"I've got to do what's best for the business, not me, and if a Geordie Abramovich knocked on the door we'd have to do business.

"I'd gladly do whatever to secure him but I don't want to lead supporters up a cul-de-sac because there's no-one there.

"I will not walk out on the business. I've made mistakes but so has everyone in football. I am from Byker and I used to fight my way into school and fight my way out again.

"This is tough but I'm not running away. It's up to me to see it through. There is no-one else to sort it out."

The consequence of Saturday's defeat, less than 48 hours after they had seen off Serie A leaders Palermo, was another fall in the league table but it is a culmination of factors throughout his reign which have made Shepherd Geordie Enemy Number One this week.

The 65-year-old businessman admitted he had overpaid some players, and for every Newcastle manager fans could name at least two players who have walked away considerably richer without making an impact. But he always backed the managers.

He said: "The biggest criticism is I've been too kind to managers with funds and too generous to players but we have the weather and we are competing with Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and we are 300 miles from London.

"We're on the verge of the Roman Empire, which is why they built the wall.

"I've been accused of many things but I can't be accused of not providing for the manager or giving players great wages. Yes, there have been mistakes but regardless of what people say I have only ever dismissed two managers - Bobby and Graeme.

"Everyone wanted Keegan and Kenny. When Gullit came there were 5,000 people here saying 'we want sexy football'.

"Everybody wanted Bobby and we all know that and he was here for five years.

"The only one the crowd did not want 100 per cent was Graeme but hindsight is a wonderful management tool.

"It's very important especially at Newcastle, you need to take supporters with you with the manager.

"It is a one-off club, the greatest in the world and managing it is the toughest job in the world.

"I got a number of emails in the summer saying I had to give the job to Glenn Roeder and not many said don't. We've got to let Glenn get on with the job but look at the injuries he's had. That's not an excuse, it's a fact."

Shepherd will be in charge for the foreseeable future and he is convinced the current squad can pull away from the relegation zone before the transfer window re-opens in January when he is again prepared to splash out.

"There has never been a quiet January at this club,' he said. We still have the team to get out of it. If it was Christmas I would be worried but we still have five months of the season.

"I couldn't have done any more for the manager in the summer with what was available. Once the window shuts all I can do is manage the business as best as I can. I cannot get on the pitch with the players."

This is not the first time Shepherd has faced calls to step down in his 13 years at the top of the club, although Saturday's demonstration was the most sustained and vehement.

He has called for face-to-face showdowns with four figures from the dressing room before. This time Shepherd insists he will back his manager and that the players are determined to stand by Roeder rather than wait to undermine from behind.

"As a team and a club we've got to get on with it. We've got to get behind this team and support them. I will certainly get behind them. We're in this as a team.

"It's not a task that can't be done. The players have all admitted they played badly but they've assured me they are all together. So let's crack on, move together and get a run going.

"I have taken flack for it but the players have to stand up and be counted as well. Supporters want to win - they don't want to be fancy dans running up their own backsides."

Captain Scott Parker, who will lead the side out at Vicarage Road for tonight's Carling Cup fourth round tie, has faced criticism form fans since Saturday for allegedly pulling out of a tackle.

That came as a complete surprise to Roeder, and those who have seen Parker's committed performances earn him a place in the England squad, and Roeder was eager to support his skipper.

The Newcastle boss said: "I would not have been comfortable doing that as a player. It goes without saying that Scott has done a fantastic job since getting the captaincy.

"He's a highly motivated player who hates losing at anything.

"The players won't find a manager with a long, sour face, who is playing the blame game. That's not Glenn's way of doing things.

"I would like to think that after hearing me stand up and take responsibility, the players will do the same and stand alongside me.

"I didn't get carried away last year and I'm not becoming depressed now. At Watford, we can raise the fans and eradicate a horrible performance."

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