Shepherd Hits Back - Money Has To Be Made

Striker Alan Shearer and manager Sir Bobby Robson both slammed the decision which could have ruined The Magpies' chances of any success this season. A draw was all tiring Newcastle could manage at Wolves. Both games were televised.

Sir Bobby Robson also hit out at the decision to take the £650,000 in TV cash rather than put the game back to allow his players more rest.

But Shepherd said: "We have the fourth biggest wage bill in the Premiership and the money has to be found from somewhere.

"That's why Newcastle United explore every avenue so that we can compete with the best teams in Europe.

"Our players are on high wages even though we are outside London and we are happy to maintain this.

"But if our players feel that they should not have played two games in three days, then they should look no further than Real Madrid.

"The Real Madrid vice-president, Emilio Butragueno, told me only this week that they played 68 games last season, and that they were making two tours at the end of next season to Asia and the US.

"The Real Madrid players aren't asked if they want to go on these tours, they are just told they are going, it's as simple as that."