Magpies threaten FA over Owen

[Scottish Mag 3]

Newcastle have warned that they are prepared to go to court to prevent England calling up Michael Owen for June's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.

 

The striker suffered a serious knee injury at last summer's World Cup and has yet to play for The Magpies this season

 

Owen may return to the Newcastle side before the end of their Premiership campaign, which in turn could lead Steve McClaren to consider him for England's crucial qualifier on 6th June.

 

However, Newcastle are still seeking compensation for Owen's injury and are determined for the Football Association to pay one way or another.

 

"If the FA don't offer us a fair settlement, we are prepared to go to court to get an injunction that could stop Michael playing for England against Estonia," Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd told the Sunday Mirror.

 

"We would do that very reluctantly, but the FA's stance is unfortunately leaving us with no other option. We will be seeking a reimbursement of his medical costs, and if there is no offer from the FA we will have no choice but to involve our lawyers.

 

"We have not been paid a penny by the FA for Owen's recuperation bill.

 

"They have not paid the price of even an aspirin for Michael since he left their care. They cut him loose as soon as he was put on the plane home.

 

"They have refused point blank to pay us, despite it costing us well over £150,000 to aid his recuperation.

 

"The FA are abusing a dominant position. They are taking our prize asset for nothing and then returning him as damaged goods."

 

Meanwhile, Owen has been linked with a big-money move to Premiership leaders Manchester United this summer.

 

Reports in the English press indicate that United could be keen on bolstering their strikeforce with Owen, who is contracted to Newcastle for two more years.

[Jimbo 175]

Great, ManUre are sniffing around Owen and the club then follows a course of action garanteed to fuck him off.

 

Taxi for old trafford !!

[Scottish Mag 3]

 

Reports in the English press indicate that United could be keen on bolstering their strikeforce with Owen, who is contracted to Newcastle for two more years.

 

 

Thats the most worrying thing for me. Does anyone really seeing us improving enough next season that would encourage Owen to sign an extension, no chance if that fuckwit Roeder is still in charge. That means next summer we would need to sell or let him walk away the following season for fuck all.

 

Whilst I would love to see a fit Michael Owen in a Newcastle shirt scoring goals and appreciate he is one of very few players in our squad of any genuine class.

 

Can we afford to take that risk or would sellling him now and reinvesting the money into another player on a longer contract be more to the benefit of the long term future of the club?

[ewerk 31636]

For fuck's sake another Fatty fuck up. You can pursue your case for damages without stopping him play for his country, that would only result in pissing the player off as well as turning a lot of the media and England fans against us. Whilst I agree with his demand for compensation it should be done without sticking Owen in the middle of it.

[Super_Steve_Howey 0]

At the end of the day, Owen is being treated as an asset, therefore slapping an injunction witholding use of our asset is the next logical step

 

I for one never wanted Owen to be treated as an asset, if you buy an England player it's up to you to cover the risks of him playing elsewhere (i.e. for England). He could have easily had that injury playing for us, and I wonder who we would have sued in that case, seeing as it seems we didn't have adequate insurance.