Magpies 'not a Leeds situation'

Freddy Shepherd insists failure to qualify for the Champions League would not prompt a “Leeds situation” at Newcastle.

The St James’ Park chairman believes his club is strong enough to miss out on joining Europe’s elite for a second straight season.

Bobby Robson’s side are currently fourth in the Premiership but competition for that last Champions League spot is fierce, prompting worries over whether Newcastle could afford to miss out.

Leeds’ spiral of decline was started by a failure to reach the Champions League but Shepherd, who saw his side reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals last night, sees no parallel.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Some other clubs would love to be where we are. We have turned a disaster into a profit with progress in the UEFA Cup but the Champions League is the place to be and we’ve got to make sure we are there this season.

“We got knocked out [in the Champions League qualifiers] by Partizan Belgrade and we have turned it around, but at the end of the day Champions League is where you want to be.

“But Newcastle is not a Leeds situation. The Newcastles of this world have no problem [not reaching the Champions League].”

Shepherd suggested he may step down if and when Newcastle end their 35-year wait for major silverware.

“The minute I get some silverware I’m off, I’m retiring on a high. I just want to win something,” he said.

However, when asked whether that would mean his retirement should Newcastle take the UEFA Cup this season, he answered: “We’ll see.”