Time for Shepherd to think of others

[Scottish Mag 3]

Through the good times and the bad, the ups and the downs, and for all the rights and the wrongs, one thing has remained constant during the last decade at St James's Park.

 

In all that he has done during his colourful chairmanship, Freddie Shepherd has been steadfast in his assertion that he has always acted in Newcastle United's best interests. As his long reign nears an inevitable end, the time has arrived for such claims to be backed up.

 

Stick or twist? Fight or flee? Shepherd is weighing up his most difficult decision yet. Love him or loath him, forgiveness will prove elusive should he get this wrong.

 

He might not want to sell his 29.8% stake in the club, but it increasingly appears that to do so would be in the club's best interests given the last week's dramatic events. What he does during the coming days and weeks will define what it is his eventful tenure is remembered for most.

 

Will he be recalled as the man perceived to have stood in the way of progress? The man who blocked an exciting era from unfolding? The man blamed for ruining Newcastle's best chance to break a long-running silverware curse? Should he attempt to make Mike Ashley's life difficult that is the risk he will take, whatever his motives might be.

 

Shepherd cannot be compelled to sell and he is well within his rights to retain his interest in the club. That does not necessarily make it the right thing to do if Newcastle's best interests are at heart.

 

What the club needs is significant investment, fresh ideas and different direction. What it doesn't need are boardroom splits, share wars or protracted battles for ownership.

 

The latter situation would prove a distraction at a club that cannot afford to lose focus. This is a situation that requires a prompt resolution. For that to happen, there can be just one outcome. A clean break is needed.

 

Ashley's insistence that the episode will not hamper Sam Allardyce's quest to succeed in his first season in charge is admirable, yet unless he gains the full control he craves, the billionaire's blueprint for a brighter future cannot progress as planned.

 

Yes, he can invest. Yes, he can remove Shepherd from office. Yes, he can restrict his influence and limit his involvement.

 

But if he is to press ahead with ambitious plans that include delivering the Premiership title within three years, the 42-year-old will require full ownership.

 

At a club desperate for success like no other, it remains to be seen whether he gets his wish. Supporters want trophies. Supporters don't want wrangling or disputes.

 

Supporters fear impasse and it is within Shepherd's capabilities to alleviate such angst.

 

It will be fascinating to see what he decides to do, with the two sides yet to meet for the first time.

 

United's directors will demand details about Ashley's intentions. The specifics remain uncertain at this point, although one thing is clear: a brilliant businessman would not spend £133m to acquire the club unless he wanted to succeed. To do so, he will require Shepherd to depart.

 

Recovering from the ailments that prompted his hospitalisation, the United chairman could well decide he doesn't need the aggravation.

 

That the club would be in better health were he to do so is beyond doubt.

 

GLENN Roeder used to insist that a footballer's character was almost as important as his sporting talents when he was considering transfer targets.

 

But, given the manner in which Obafemi Martins has behaved in recent times, it must be asked whether the former Newcastle boss was as thorough as he might have been when doing his homework.

 

The striker might have completed his maiden campaign at St James's Park as the club's 17-goal leading scorer. But the manner in which he has conducted himself both at home and abroad in recent weeks leaves much to be desired.

[Ketsbaia 0]

If he doesn't sell up I may well go down to St. James' and take a rusty meat cleaver to Freddy's skull.

[magpie418 0]

did you write that SM?