Sir Bobby: "It was tough, but we did it!"

By Matthew Jones
May 25 2003

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has admitted that he "wrestled with his conscience" before asking Bowyer to put pen to paper on Friday. Robson and Freddy Shepherd considered every aspect of Bowyer's past before confirming the transfer on Friday.

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has admitted that signing Lee Bowyer wasn't easy. With Bowyer having had more than his fair share of off-the-field problems in the past, Sir Bobby had to think twice before asking Bowyer to put pen to paper.

Both Robson and chairman Freddy Shepherd considered every aspect of their bid before confirming the deal in London on Friday.

"We had to give it an awful lot of consideration," Robson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek show. "I've met the boy, I've met his girlfriend and I was very warmed by both of them.

"Lee knows that he made an error, but he needs a second chance. He is obviously aware of what happened, but that's in the past.

"We feel that we can support him and give him guidance. We have a lot of fine players at Newcastle, we have a good squad, we have a lot of good character and we just think that, once he settles into our situation, he'll turn out to be a fine pro and a fine boy.

"I'm very confident about that. We did wrestle. We knew there was a slight problem in that sense with Lee Bowyer, but the past is the past.

"The boy needs a chance. Many other clubs would have given him that chance, but we've given it to him and I'm sure that the boy will respond and he will be very pleased to be at Newcastle United, and I think that he will have a good long career with us."