Shepherd vows to rescue Magpies

NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted he will get the balance right as he attempts to rid the club of its troublemakers and underachievers.

Shepherd lost patience with Craig Bellamy after a bust-up with manager Graeme Souness in January and sent him on loan to Celtic after he turned down a move to Birmingham.

Aston Villa have since entered the race for his signature and, although there have been suggestions the chairman’s attitude is softening towards the Welshman, Souness remains adamant that he cannot return.

With Patrick Kluivert having left, Laurent Robert and Hugo Viana almost certain to follow and question marks hanging over the likes of Nicky Butt, Lee Bowyer and Celestine Babayaro, there are certain to be changes in personnel in the coming weeks, although Shepherd wants value for his expensively-acquired assets.

Souness has promised wholesale changes, provided he can offload his misfits and persuade his targets to head for Tyneside.