Shepherd considered sacking Bowyer for bust-up

NEWCASTLE chairman Freddie Shepherd admitted he considered sacking Lee Bowyer and believes the midfielder "should go down on his hands and knees" in the wake of his on-field fight with team-mate Kieron Dyer.

Bowyer was fined six weeks' wages, amounting to £200,000 (€291,000), by the club yesterday - the maximum penalty available to Newcastle short of terminating his contract.

But Shepherd has admitted he came close to sacking the player, a controversial signing when he joined from West Ham two years ago.