Magpies reject Given's transfer request

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has had his request for a transfer turned down.

The 24-year-old Irish international rocked the St James' Park club earlier this month when he formally asked for a move after failing to regain his place from Steve Harper following his return from injury.

Given made his request in writing to both manager Bobby Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd, and was told he would be given a decision in due course.

Robson delivered the verdict in a written reply as he and his players - including Given - prepared to leave for the Midlands ahead of tonight's FA Cup third round replay against Aston Villa.

"The board's decision is that his transfer request has been turned down," said Robson. "I would expect him to react to that in a professional way.

"He's made a request which has been denied. I would hope he would accept that and get on with serving this football club on the contract he signed, take it on and go step-by-step."

Given's bombshell came completely out of the blue after he was sidelined by a thigh injury which had been troubling him for several weeks.

He finally succumbed during the 2-0 defeat at Derby on December 23, and Harper, who replaced him at Pride Park, has remained in possession for the five games since.

He submitted his request after just three games on the bench, citing his international future as one of his main concerns.

Robson admitted he was disappointed at the development after seeing the two men continue to compete for the number one spot under his tenure after Harper emerged as the main challenger under predecessor Ruud Gullit.

Given arrived on Tyneside in July 1997 when then manager Kenny Dalglish snapped him up from under the noses of neighbours Sunderland, where he had played on loan during the previous season, by paying Blackburn £1.5m.

He was immediately installed as number one ahead of Shaka Hislop and Pavel Srnicek, with Harper a distant fourth choice.

But after the two senior men departed, Harper emerged as a genuine contender for the jersey and has remained so ever since.

Speculation during the summer linked the Lifford-born keeper with a move to Celtic, where he played as a junior, but he accepted a lucrative new contract which Robson and Shepherd firmly believed had secured his future.

Newcastle's refusal of the transfer request reinforces their determination to hang on to him, and as their reaction to Didier Domi's stay-away protest proves, they will not be dictated to by players.

Given said: "As I got on the team coach for the midlands I was handed a letter from the chairman saying that the board had turned down my transfer request.

"To be perfectly honest, I am pleased to know where I stand. My intention was simply to express my frustration at being left out of the team after I had missed the Leeds United game through injury.

"As I pledged at the time, I am 100% committed to Newcastle United and am as much a part of the team now as ever before. I have been training hard and am determined to win back both my place in the team and my excellent relationship with the fans."