Embargo put on all NUFC transfers

[ohhh_yeah 2991]

Embargo put on all NUFC transfers

Jul 17 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

NEWCASTLE United have put a transfer embargo in place which will prevent the departure of any of the club’s wantaway stars until a takeover has been completed.

 

Several Newcastle players, including Sebastien Bassong, Jonas Gutierrez and Habib Beye, have already publicly stated their intention to leave St James’s Park following the disaster of relegation.

 

Many more have also privately warned they will be forced to hand in a transfer request if Alan Shearer is not appointed manager by the start of next week.

 

Morale has hit rock-bottom behind the scenes at St James’s Park and some fear a full-scale player revolt unless some sort of breakthrough is made on the managerial front.

 

However, The Journal understands the club will not accept any written transfer requests or offers for their players until new owners are in place, despite a wage bill of more than £65m a year which is crippling its finances.

 

A senior United source said last night: “There will be no players coming or going until the takeover has been completed. There will not be a firesale and it is up to the new owners and manager to decide who comes and who goes.

 

“The transfer market does not really get going until August, and Newcastle will not be doing any business until a buyer has been found. It is all on hold.”

 

That position was backed up by Alex Black, the agent of United striker Alan Smith, who has been heavily linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers this week.

 

When asked about the future of the former Leeds and Manchester United player, Black claimed there was no point worrying about it at the moment because of the embargo.

 

He said: “Nothing has changed at this moment in time regarding Alan Smith. It is exactly as it was.

 

“To be honest, there is no point even worrying about it.

 

“Newcastle United have put a sort of embargo on any players moving in or out of the club until the situation is resolved in terms of ownership.

 

“So, what can you do until that is sorted out?

 

“There is no point worrying about it, as it is in Newcastle’s hands.”

 

That is bound to frustrate the likes of Beye and Bassong, although supporters will hope the embargo will not be lifted until Shearer is appointed, which will at least give the former Magpies skipper the chance to persuade them to change their mind.

 

Newcastle have received offers for Bassong, Obafemi Martins and Fabricio Coloccini already this summer, but all

 

are expected to continue to prepare for the new season with United, despite the state of limbo which continues to damage the team’s chance of making an immediate return to the top flight.

 

Although hopes of a sale have begun to fade rapidly among United fans after weeks of delays and passing deadlines, United sources have also attempted to reassure The Journal the club will still be sold this summer.

 

The same senior club official insisted last night that several groups remain interested in completing a £100m deal and claimed Seymour Pierce, the bank in charge of the sale process, remain confident a resolution to the increasingly damaging saga will come before the start of the Championship campaign on August 8.

 

That, though, has done little to relieve the tension on Tyneside, with manager-in-waiting Shearer a frustrated spectator at his home in Northumberland and supporters utterly disillusioned by the farcical situation.

 

Newcastle travel to Darlington for their second pre-season friendly of the summer tomorrow with Chris Hughton (below) continuing to make the best of a bad situation as caretaker boss.

 

 

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-24173700/

[johnthebrief 0]

That position was backed up by Alex Black, the agent of United striker Alan Smith, who has been heavily linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers this week.

 

 

WTF ?

 

Someone remind me how many goals he's scored?