Robson hits back after Toon axing

Bobby Robson today countered claims of indiscipline at St James’ Park as he revealed how being sacked by Newcastle left him “bewildered”.

Robson was fired after Newcastle’s first four games of the Premiership season, and he remains frustrated that the club’s board did not allow his four major summer signings to settle in before wielding the axe.

Newcastle had failed to pick up a win in their opening matches, and that led to action from Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Robson, 71, who is currently looking for a route back into the game, has been linked with the managerial role at Real Madrid recently but another move abroad seems unlikely.

Speaking to Des Lynam on England's BBC Radio Five Live’s ‘Des Meets’ show, Robson revealed his dismay at the treatment meted out to him by Shepherd.

“It was a shock to be sacked, I was bewildered,” he said.

“I know that in the four games from the start of the season we hadn’t won a match, but we hadn’t lost two consecutively. We drew and lost, then drew and lost.

“It was a blow, we had qualified for Europe and were looking forward to the new season. It was a disappointment to finish fifth (in 2003-04) but it wasn’t such a bad season at all.”

Robson also underlined his annoyance at Shepherd’s pre-season announcement that the 2004-05 campaign was to be the manager’s last in charge, irrespective of the manager’s wishes.

“I don’t think it helped. I didn’t think it would make much of a difference but I was disappointed that it was announced in the way that it was,” Robson explained.

“I felt that the squad we comprised was the best we had assembled for many a year.

“We brought in four great players: (Stephen) Carr, who I am a big fan of, (Nicky) Butt, (James) Milner – who will be great for many years – and (Patrick) Kluivert who has real quality. It is a beautiful squad.”

With Robson struggling to keep his players in order, notably when Kieron Dyer refused to play on the right side of midfield against Middlesbrough, the manager’s sacking had been widely touted as a possibility, given that his contract was due to expire well before those of the alleged dissenters.

But Robson refutes the charge that he was losing control.

“I didn’t feel the players were moving away. We played four games, didn’t win one, but we could have won all four,” he argued.

“It’s just newspaper talk that the players weren’t with me. Team spirit was good.”

Robson highlighted day-to-day examples of the discipline which still existed at Newcastle during his tenure, insisting no jewellery was worn for training and no baseball caps were adorned while the players were eating.

“Maybe there was a bit of self-indiscipline with one or two players away from the club which you always try to remedy,” he added.

“I’ve got to get on with my life, it’s all gone now.”

Robson admitted it is the simple things he misses about management.

He revealed: “I felt lost, to lose all those contacts, the network of people around you, the email system, telephone, fax, the staff, who I have to say I were quite distraught because we’d been together for a long, long time.”

Looking ahead to the future, it appears Robson is not content with relaxing on the golf course every day.

He continued: “I want to work, I like working, I don’t like supermarkets on Saturday afternoons. I like watching other teams play. I just love football.

“But I’m not rushing into anything, I’m very fit. I’ll do it for the right job, some things might be available. But I’m having a break for the first time in 54 years.

“I managed a game of golf last week, which was very pleasant.”

For the time being, though, Robson is happy to sit back and reflect.

He admits that though the England job was difficult at first, he ended up enjoying it.

He explained: “The England job was tough, a rough ride. It’s a nightmare when you lose. You have to win, and I didn’t lose too many times.

“By the end of my tenure I liked the England job, I enjoyed it, though it took two years, working with the best players and pitting myself against the best coaches in the world.”

And though he was popular as manager of his country, he believes he came close to delivering the World Cup trophy.

“World Cup 1990 was a tragedy because we would have beaten Argentina in the final – and in 1986 Maradona robbed us.

“I saw him years later at a dinner after a charity match. I went up to him, shaking my head and shaking my finger and he just smiled. But he got them to the final.

“I was with England for eight years and it’s a tricky job.

“They offered it to me again one year into my Newcastle contract. I was tempted, and Freddy Shepherd was fair to me, direct and honest, and told me ‘we’ve had an offer, we’re not letting you go, we think you’re the man for the job.’

“I’m philosophical, there was a tinge of disappointment.

“But the chairman was right, and Newcastle had put me into the Premiership, back at my home ground, my father’s ground. He bled black and white and so do I.

Robson also spoke about his two major illnesses, which both came several years ago.

He added: “I’ve had cancer twice and I’m not reluctant to talk about it.

“When I was at PSV (Eindhoven) in 1991 I discovered I had cancer of the bowel which was caught early, thank God. It was operated on and removed and I’ve led a full and active and healthy life since.

“I was out of the game for three months, PSV were marvellous, they kept me going, and in a two-year period we actually won the championship twice.

“Before I went to Porto, I broke my nose in training at Ipswich.

“When I was in Porto I went home and my wife had arranged for me to see a doctor about having a sinus operation.

“My wife saved my life, the doctor told me he had grave news, there was a malignant melanoma in my face. He told me I needed an operation and if I didn’t have it by August I would be dead by January.

“I had to undergo massive surgery, they took my teeth out and went through the roof of my mouth. It was a 10-hour operation but he put me right.