Sheperd 'labels' Hammers

By Matthew
June 22 2002

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has labelled West Ham "disgraceful" after The Hammers claimed they had signed Olivier Bernard.

The 22-year-old French defender is reported to have signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Upton Park as his Magpies deal has expired.

But Newcastle insist they still have an option on Bernard for another season, and the matter is now to be decided at a special Premiership tribunal on Wednesday.

The tug-of-war over the full-back has already seen Newcastle make a formal complaint in March that The Hammers had made an unofficial approach to the player.

Shepherd said: "As far as we are concerned, West Ham have welched on an agreement that they would not sign Bernard. That's why we dropped our complaint to the Premiership after West Ham tapped him back in March.

"The Premier League accepted Bernard's contract of two years with another 12 months option when we signed him, so why can't they accept it now ?"
Shepherd added in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Whatever you may say about Newcastle United we have always kept our word, which is something West Ham have not done.

"What West Ham have done is disgraceful and I will go down to the tribunal on Wednesday and fight this to the bitter end."

This dispute is sure to add extra spice to the opening Premiership match of the season between the two on August 17th at St James' Park.