NEWCASTLE (5)

Allardyce May Make Renewed Bid For Brown



Early on Friday afternoon, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that he had rejected an offer from Newcastle for utility defender Wes Brown.

England international Brown, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and has turned down United's final offer of a contract extension.

But despite the earlier knock-back, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is planning to hold talks with Magpies' chairman Chris Mort about making another bid.

Allardyce still believes that Brown would bolster Newcastle's shaky defence.

"I will have to speak to the chairman over that," Allardyce told Sky Sports News.

"From my point of view, I would like Wes Brown very, very much. A hugely experienced defender coming in would be fantastic.

"From our point of view, we have had a problem of not keeping enough clean sheets and this effectively means we have to score at least two goals to win a football match.

"If we can [resolve] that side of our defensive problems with Wes, that would be fantastic. I would have to speak to Chris on that to see whether we can move it forward or whether we can't."

Allardyce also played down the possibility of moving for Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim, with whom the manager worked when both were at Bolton Wanderers.

Refuting reports of an imminent bid for Ben Haim, Allardyce said: "I don't think so at the moment, that's not one we've certainly pursued anyway."






Allardyce: Magpies Duo Are Going Nowhere



Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has unequivocally stated that defender Steven Taylor and striker Obafemi Martins are not for sale.

Reports in the English press claimed that Taylor, who captains England's U-21s, had been stalling on a new St. James' Park deal.

He would be available on a free transfer at the end of this season. Meanwhile, Martins' breakthrough in the English game has made him a target for the top Premiership sides.

But Allardyce has warned the likes of Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea to back off.

"While they say everybody has got his price, I can tell them that Steven Taylor is not for sale," Allardyce told the Evening Chronicle.

"We have had no contact with Villa or City about Obafemi Martins, but I can tell them - and anybody else, for that matter - that he is not for sale," he added.

Allardyce did not comment on whether the rumours of the Nigerian's £13m get out clause were true.










Redknapp Leaves Pompey Training, Cancels Press Conference



Rumours earlier this morning that Redknapp will be approached by Newcastle gained grounding as it all started going haywire at Portsmouth just after noon.

Redknapp left the Pompey training ground with Peter Storrie much before the sceduled end. The same also resulted in his scheduled press conference being cancelled.

In comments to The News in Portsmouth this morning, he insisted that there was yet to be any contact.

"To say a deal has already been done is absolute rubbish," he had said. "I couldn't say anything else because that's the situation.


"There has been no approach. All I'm doing is trying to get a couple of players in before the Sunderland game on Sunday, but I haven't got anywhere with that.


"Nobody from Newcastle has contacted me and in any case, that wouldn't be allowed. Nobody has contacted Peter Storrie."

It is believed that an official contact has now been made by Newcastle, which is why Redknapp is meeting with Storrie.

According to rumours, Portsmouth and Newcastle are busy thrashing out a compensation package which will allow redknapp to take over at Tyneside.

That is, of course, uncomformed as of now. However, what did emerge from Harry's comments this morning was his unwillingness to rule out a move to Newcastle, and a declaration that any possible decision would not be for financial reasons.


"Money would not be an issue to me," he stressed. "I wouldn't go anywhere just for the money."

Mike Ashley will have to come up with a lot more than a healthy contract, it seems. Stay tuned for developments.














Manager Allardyce leaves Newcastle



Newcastle United FC have parted company with Sam Allardyce by "mutual agreement" after their manager of only eight months failed to lift the north-east team out of the bottom half of the Premier League.

Early exit
Allardyce's arrival from Bolton Wanderers FC last May had appeared to herald a revival for a side that finished 13th last season. However, despite significant summer spending, Allardyce has been unable to achieve consistent results and now departs St James' Park less than a year into his three-year contract.

'Disappointed'
The 53-year-old said in an official club statement: "I am disappointed to be leaving Newcastle United but I wish the club all the best for the remainder of the season and for the future." First-team coach Nigel Pearson takes caretaker control ahead of Saturday's match at Manchester United FC.

No trophy
Newcastle occupy eleventh position in the English table, with seven wins from 21 games. Allardyce had been appointed successor to Glenn Roeder just a fortnight after he ended his eight-year reign at Bolton Wanderers – whom he had guided to UEFA Cup qualification in two of his last three seasons at the Reebok Stadium. He had left Bolton citing a desire to win a trophy. Newcastle's own appetite for success may have been his undoing – they are without silverware since winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup of 1969 and last lifted a domestic honour in 1955.








Hodgson Still Believes Despite Fulham Set-Back At West Ham
Fulham's self-destructive inability to hold onto a lead proved to be their undoing again today as they allowed West Ham to come from behind to beat them 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground.



Simon Davies gave Fulham an early lead from a long-range free-kick, but Dean Ashton and Anton Ferdinand replied for West Ham to inflict further woe on the Cottagers, who remain in the bottom three.

The loss was a double-edged sword, because Fulham's relegation rivals Wigan won at Derby, and fellow-strugglers Middlesbrough and Birmingham both took creditable points off 'Big Four' Liverpool and Arsenal, respectively.

Recently appointed Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, reflected on the disappointing outcome against West Ham, but refused to get down-hearted.

He said: "There are enough games left. It will not be easy but it won't be easy for many of the other teams around the relegation zone either.

"I believe we can do it."

Improving Fulham's position will almost certainly require Hodgson being able to make a few productive buys in the January transfer market.

The manager was not prepared to expand on his attempts to sign Watford striker Marlon King.

But of the game today, he said: "We had chances at the end and it was difficult to see a point disappear.

"I can't complain about the discipline, the work rate and the effort but the balance in our team is not right at the moment and we will have to work to bring those types of players in."