Shepherd: All Robson’s Fault

By Nick Raynor
January 30 2005

Newcastle Chairman Freddy Shepherd has blamed the problems with Craig Bellamy on former manager, Sir Bobby Robson.

Robson was sacked early on in the season and had many problems with players undermining and arguing with him.

 

Bellamy is now engaged in a row with current manager, Graham Souness, after the Welsh striker calling him a ‘liar’ on national television.

 

And Shepherd believes that Robson is to blame for not being strict enough.

 

Shepherd said:

"Graeme Souness has been unfairly blamed for what has happened."

 

"But the seeds of the Craig Bellamy situation were sown before he arrived at the club.”

 

"Many of the problems Graeme is having to deal with are down to the way the previous manager handled discipline."

 

"If Sir Bobby had taken a harder line I am convinced we wouldn't be facing this situation."

 

Shepherd also backed Souness for the way he has handled the clubs ‘rat-pack’.

 

He added:

 

"It needed to be done. Some players have been getting away with challenging the authority of the manager and seemed to believe they were untouchable."

 

"Graeme has had the guts to say enough is enough and has shown in the strongest manner possible that he won't stand for indiscipline."