Owen wooed by Allardyce

[@yourservice 67]

Michael Owen may have not clarified his position at Newcastle United to the club's chairman, Freddy Shepherd, but the England striker has spoken to the new manager, Sam Allardyce, and the tone of the conversation is said to have been positive. Owen is said to be convinced theoretically by Allardyce's plans at Newcastle and may yet be part of them.

 

Owen, who has a £9m get-out clause at St James' Park that he and his advisors seem keen to exploit - a notion not yet contradicted by Owen - joins up with England today in preparation for their B international against Albania at Burnley on Friday. It is another test of Owen's fitness as he recovers from last year's knee-ligament damage, but he can expect to be asked about his immediate future. Owen has yet to respond publicly to Shepherd's remarks about "loyalty", but Allardyce appears to be making progress elsewhere.

Allardyce is close to two breakthroughs with his backroom staff after Bolton's performance director Mike Forde rejected a new contract from the club yesterday morning. That leaves him free to join Allardyce at Newcastle United, while Mark Taylor, Bolton's head of sports science, has also indicated he is leaving Allardyce's former club for Tyneside.

 

It is understood there is no compensation required for Taylor, but Forde's contractual position is less clear and the Bolton chairman Phil Gartside will not wish to lose Allardyce, Forde and Taylor without having received any payment from Newcastle.

 

But judging by Bolton's own backroom staff movements, there is an acceptance at the club that Forde and Taylor will be moving on. The new manager Sammy Lee's Liverpool connections have taken him back to the club to appoint the joint chief scout at Anfield, Frank McParland, to the role of general manager at Bolton - a role Bolton wanted Forde to take on. It is not known what title Forde would have at Newcastle; Phil Brown agreed a new deal with Hull City yesterday so will not become Allardyce's assistant.

 

After another active day of trading in the club's shares, Newcastle are now valued at over £110m - up approximately 30% since March - and there are fresh rumours circulating in the City of London about possible interest from two new parties, one Far Eastern, the other American.

 

The Newcastle defender Titus Bramble, whose imminent release by Allardyce was announced last week, has rejected Celtic, Birmingham and Fulham to agree a free transfer to Portsmouth. The 25-year-old will undergo a medical at Fratton Park today to become Harry Redknapp's first summer signing. "Titus is a good free transfer," said Redknapp. "We are looking to strengthen the squad and we have some exciting players lined up."

[wykikitoon 20150]

Reject Celtic? Someone who is as shit as him should have gone there to get medals and trophies surley? OR Was he shitting it incase the Hoops fans shot him or summit for been shit?

 

Its getting boring tbh about Owen now?

[luckyluke 2]

Does anyone else get the visual image of Owen coming out on his balcony to to find Sam down below with flowers and reading poetry? Or is it just me?

[Geordie Boyo 24]

[manc-mag 1]

Does anyone else get the visual image of Owen coming out on his balcony to to find Sam down below with flowers and reading poetry? Or is it just me?

 

Aye, I sort of imagined it like that Rene and Renatta video from the 80's. Or the Russ Abbot version of it anyway.

[Meenzer 15531]

Does anyone else get the visual image of Owen coming out on his balcony to to find Sam down below with flowers and reading poetry? Or is it just me?

 

Aye, I sort of imagined it like that Rene and Renatta video from the 80's. Or the Russ Abbot version of it anyway.

 

Shepherd would have to play the Bella Emberg role, it's a match made in heaven.

[2bias 3]

the owen crap is getting boring. he is going to stay