Robert fined £160,000 after double blast at Souness

LAURENT ROBERT has been fined around £160,000 following his two outbursts against Newcastle manager Graeme Souness.

The Frenchman branded Souness “a child” on Tuesday and predicted he would be sacked.

Yesterday he launched another broadside and claimed England midfielder Jermaine Jenas would leave the club in frustration at being confined to the substitutes’ bench for part of last season.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd fined the winger, who will complete his move to Portsmouth tomorrow, the maximum two weeks’ wages for the second successive day - Robert earns around £40,000 a week - and reported him to the Football Association.

“He was warned not to do it and he must suffer the consequences,” Shepherd told the club’s official website, www.nufc.co.uk.

“We have also reported him to the Football Association and we are seeking guidance from them on any further action they may wish to take.”

Shepherd received backing from Leeds chairman Ken Bates, who described the player as “a prat.”

“With a bit of luck, he (Robert) will get a hat-trick if he does it again before tonight when his contract is up,” he said.

“That is the trouble with some players today. He has left Newcastle because he wanted to leave, he is starting a new career so why does he need to slag off his former manager and his former chairman? It is totally unnecessary.

“All he does is demean himself. People will feel sympathetic to Souness, they will feel sympathetic to Freddy Shepherd, they will feel sympathetic to the Newcastle fans and they will think he is what he is, a total prat who deserves contempt. He starts his new contract on the wrong foot.”

Robert’s latest punishment came after he warned Newcastle that they face losing 22-year-old Jenas following the recruitment of Amdy Faye and Scott Parker since Souness’ arrival at St James’ Park last September.

“I have seen Jermaine Jenas growing up at Newcastle and he is a brilliant player who could become the new Patrick Vieira,” Robert said. “But I know just how badly he took to being put on the bench last season.

“Now he is at a turning point in his career and I think he will leave.”

Speculation over Jenas’ future is not new - Arsenal and Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with the former Nottingham Forest starlet.