Jimbo

FERGIE LAUNCHES OWEN BID By ANDY DUNN and DAVID HARRISON MANCHESTER UNITED have taken the first steps in a sensational move to sign Michael Owen. Informal contact has been made between United and Owen's representatives over a summer transfer. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes he can snap up the England striker for a cut-price £7million and is pushing for a speedy conclusion to the deal. Sir Alex will go on and on, says Dalglish: Click here for full story Fergie: It's unthinkable we won't win a trophy: Click here for full story The United boss is convinced Owen can provide the missing ingredient to his strike force – a penalty box predator who can convert half chances. Fergie confirmed this week that an Owen-type striker was high on his list of summer targets. Louis Saha looks certain to be unloaded and Sir Alex said: "We will buy. Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually." Owen's recent goal-scoring form has convinced Fergie he can still cut it at the highest level. However, he would probably want to sign the striker on an incentive-based contract, dependent on games and goals. United's interest comes at a time when Owen's future at Newcastle has been thrown into serious doubt. Talks have yet to begin on a new contract and the indications are that he will be expected to take a £40,000-a-week cut on his £120,000-a-week earnings. That will be rejected by Owen and he will either press for an immediate move or see out the last year of his deal and go for free in 2009. Meanwhile, Fergie will pick up a £500,000 bonus if he leads United to the double and nd his weekly wages will rise from £70,000 to £90,000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7391932.stm Beach hut up for sale for £80,000 A wooden beach hut for sale on the Suffolk coast could buck the downward trend in property prices and fetch more than £80,000, estate agents said. The blue and white hut, near Southwold harbour, comes complete with lounging chairs, windbreaks and a kettle. The family which owns the hut is asking for offers of more than £70,000. "There is pressure on property prices but I think the key may be scarcity," said Richard Leeming, of estate agents Flick & Son, which is selling the hut. "Beach huts in places like Southwold are scarce," he explained. Mr Leeming said the hut may prove to be a sound "niche" investment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...onf/7382167.stm Ebbsfleet 1-0 Torquay Chris McPhee's first-half strike earned Ebbsfleet victory in the FA Trophy final against Torquay at Wembley. McPhee went from villain to hero after he saw a first-half penalty expertly saved by Martin Rice, making amends by tapping in John Akinde's cross. Akinde hit the post after the break before Torquay fought back, Tim Sills' header cleared off the line. Elliott Benyon had a golden chance to level late on but he headed wide from six yards and Ebbsfleet held on. Ebbsfleet United: Cronin, Hawkins, Opinel, Smith, McCarthy, Long (MacDonald 84), McPhee, Barrett, Bostwick, Akinde, Moore. Subs Not Used: Ricketts, Purcell, Mott, Eribenne. Booked: McCarthy, Smith, Moore. Goals: McPhee 45. Torquay: Rice, Nicholson, Woods, Todd, Mansell, Sills (Hill 88), Phillips (Stevens 46), Hargreaves, D'Sane (Benyon 66), Adams, Zebroski. Subs Not Used: Robertson, Hockley. Booked: Rice. Att: 40,186.

Nearly crashed several times this afternoon rubber-necking at tits in full effect.

is that your tattoo Jimbo? Yes, why? Don't you like it?

Don't you think there is a conflict here ? one minute Ashley is supposedly insensed that Keegan thinks we can't break into the top 4, and in the next breath there is only £20m to spend ?

Something that does piss me off about this is why the fuck is Keegan being summonsed to London by Ashley two days before a Premiership match? Surely it would be in the best interests of all if Ashley made his way up to Tyneside if he has issues? I know a lot of it is press garbage, but I'm starting to feel a bit uneasy about the fact the club is increasingly seeming to be run from London rather than Newcastle... From .com: .....Keegan, Mort and Ashley are all on the invite list for tonight's charity dinner at SJP with Sir Bobby Robson.

Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort has revealed that talks between manager Kevin Keegan and owner Mike Ashley were 'productive and constructive'. Keegan's meeting with Newcastle officials on Friday afternoon followed comments The Magpies boss made admitting his side will not be able to compete with the Premier League's top four for a significant period of time. Mort and his newly-appointed deputy Derek Llambias, as well as executive director (football) Dennis Wise and vice-president (player recruitment) Tony Jimenez were also at the meeting, which took place at Freshfields. It was claimed that Keegan's position at St James' Park could be in jeopardy after the comments reportedly did not sit well with Ashley. However, it is understood the club's hierarchy are looking to the future as Keegan plots for next season. Mort said: "It was a good meeting. It was both productive and constructive." Keeagan added: "Part of my job as manager of Newcastle United is to tell fans what's happening at their club. "Part of the media's job is to report it correctly and keep it in context and not go off on tangents. "You can take the same phrase three different ways, and it can mean three different things. You know that. "I will continue to do what I have always done while I have been manager of Newcastle United, and at Manchester City and at Fulham and with England. I haven't changed. "I am not scared of saying what I think the situation is, and I won't change that."

SSN just reported a quote from Mort: Talks took place at Freshfields in London, with Mike Ashley, Chris Mort, Kevin Keegan, Dennis Wise and Tony Jiminez, talks were constructive and productive.

Don't believe a word of it until its on my TV tbh.

Something that does piss me off about this is why the fuck is Keegan being summonsed to London by Ashley two days before a Premiership match? Surely it would be in the best interests of all if Ashley made his way up to Tyneside if he has issues? My thoughts exactly.

If they didn`t care less it would hardly have run five pages. I`m enjoying this. I can`t lose. Deluded. You sure are! Quality comeback

Half term was last week wasn't it ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/7390139.stm Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan says he is looking forward to his meeting with owner Mike Ashley in London on Friday. The pair's relationship is reported to have soured after Keegan claimed that Newcastle were unlikely to break into top four during his time in charge. But Keegan said: "I am going to London on Friday to talk with Mike Ashley. That is a good thing and I will look forward to it. "That's the only comment I am going to make on anything to do with that." A pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle's Premier League match at Everton was brought forward 24 hours to pre-empt questions on the meeting. "This is a pre-match conference for the game against Everton and that's all I'm going to talk about from now on," added the 57-year-old, who rejoined Newcastle four months ago. Speculation continues over Keegan's future at St James' Park after the manager's comments following Newcastle's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Monday. Keegan claimed the Premier League would continue to be dominated by Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. "Maybe the owner thinks we can bridge that gap - but we can't," said Keegan after the match. "This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world." Keegan, who turned Newcastle into title contenders when he managed them from February 1992 until January 1997, has been promised funds to attract big-name signings in the summer. But he has repeatedly indicated his dissatisfaction that striker Michael Owen has not been tied down to a new contract, while he has also sarcastically said his relationship with his billionaire owner was good because they never spoke.

Viduka out for three to six months Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has revealed that Mark Viduka's Achilles injury will keep him out of action for between three and six months. Viduka, who also suffered hamstring, calf and ankle injuries this season, came off during his side's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Monday. The Magpies boss said he would know in the next two weeks whether the Australian striker, who along with fellow strikers Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins was key to the club's recent good form, will be fit for the early period of next season. "Mark Viduka could be out for three to six months," Keegan revealed at his press conference on Thursday. "That’s a blow for us but we’ll see. "We’ll know more in two weeks and will inform you then. Mark’s done great for us so that’s a blow." The club had already indicated that this injury would ensure he would not play in Newcastle's final game of the seasona and his country's four World Cup qualifiers they play in June.

More back page headlines for our "little" club.

Back of tomorrows Sun.

Kevin Keegan has been summoned to London today for showdown talks with angry Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley. Sportsmail understands the manager was ordered to switch his pre-match press conference to today so that he can meet the billionaire and Dennis Wise, the club's executive director (football). Ashley was said to be incensed by Keegan's comments following Monday's game against Chelsea, not least those directed at him. Keegan complained that he was not receiving the financial backing to break into the top four of the Barclays Premier League and said sarcastically that his relationship with Ashley was fine because he "never" spoke to him. What is said to alarm Ashley is how much Keegan's position has changed since he returned to the club in January. Not only did Ashley arrive at Keegan's first match wearing a shirt with the manager's name across his back, but Keegan described Ashley as the perfect football club owner and someone the club should endeavour to keep. Keegan will now be asked to explain his comments in a meeting that could clear the air, but could also be so explosive that it ends with the 'Geordie Messiah' leaving St James' Park for a second time. As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, Keegan's relationship with his employers has reached breaking point. Not only is he frustrated by what he sees as a lack of ambition and a reluctance to secure the services of Michael Owen on a long-term contract, but he believes football decisions are being made by the board without consulting him. A major problem is the fact that Wise and Tony Jimenez, the club vice-president who is in charge of player recruitment, do not seem to share Keegan's philosophy when it comes to rebuilding the squad. While Keegan wants the finished article, Wise and Jimenez are searching for players who will increase in value once they move to Newcastle. Keegan missed training yesterday, such a rare occurrence since he succeeded Sam Allardyce that it sparked rumours he had already quit. However, it was later suggested that he was struggling to cope with an ear infection. Sources close to Keegan insist he will not resign, not least because he cannot afford to walk away from what would probably be a £3million pay-off, but tomorrow's meeting could yet determine if he still has a future at the club. Wise is unlikely to be in the best of moods, given that he will not be able to play in his annual charity golf day in Ealing. It also emerged yesterday that the Newcastle players were distinctly unimpressed by Keegan's comments on Monday. The fact that he said they would not be a top four side in the three years that represent his current agreement shocked the players. They are concerned not only by what they see as a lack of ambition at the club, but a lack of belief in them.

"Monty, you terrible cunt".

Probably moves quicker tbh.

Terrence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the hardline according to........

A must for the next edition of Rogers Profanisaurus.

The worst thing to say is we've got £xxxm to spend as this only serves to inflate any price of players you are bidding for.