Looks like Shay is on his way

Felt this deserved a new thread.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1104006/Given-needs-Toon-turmoil-driving-Shay-claims-lawyers-bombshell-statement.html?ITO=1490

Given needs to go: Toon turmoil is driving Shay out, claims lawyer's bombshell statement

 

By Chris Wheeler

Last updated at 11:42 PM on 01st January 2009

 

Newcastle were rocked on Thursday night as Shay Given’s future was thrown into doubt after 459 appearances for the club.

 

Given’s lawyer, Michael Kennedy, took the unusual step of releasing a statement that will surely bring to an end the goalkeeper’s loyal 11-year stay at St James’ Park under nine managers.

 

Kennedy said: ‘Shay is very despondent following the very poor performance of the team against Liverpool last weekend.

 

‘It was the lowest point of his football career and a performance that he would not wish to be repeated.

 

‘When he signed a new five-year contract in 2006 it was on the basis that the club would challenge for major honours, but on the present evidence all that he can see ahead with the turmoil on and off the pitch is a battle for survival.

 

'Having served the club loyally for over 11 years, Shay feels compelled to consider his position in the light of the interest being expressed in him by Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.’

 

Kennedy, who also represents Roy Keane, is notoriously reluctant to speak publicly, so this is a sign of Given’s unhappiness with Newcastle’s season and of their prospects.

 

No bid for Given has been officially confirmed but Newcastle and the player face a decision as to whether Given appears in the FA Cup third round at Hull City on Saturday.

The club is a joke. Goodbye Shay and thanks - legend.

Would hate to see him leave, but could understand why. Hope he stays though

If he goes, hope he goes to City for about £87 million.

Can't say I blame him. Still a legend in my eyes if he leaves or stays.

I heard a rumour.......

Go Shay, I'm a fan and I'd have left this shit heap years ago.

How depressing that he clearly feels 16th-placed Tottenham and 13th-placed Manchester City are better prospects than us.

Can't feel any ill will towards the man.

It'll be a bitter pill to swallow when the man leaves, fair enough though, you can see where Shay's coming from. This f*cking club sometimes 

won't blame him either.

It would be sickning if he signs for Spurs.  

How depressing that he clearly feels 16th-placed Tottenham and 13th-placed Manchester City are better prospects than us.

tottenham I agree but Man City have infinite potential with their cheque book.

We don't have to sell him-he's under contract for a while isn't he?

Fucking hell.

Really hope he doesn't sign for Spurs and inparticular that cunt Redknapp. That would be the ultimate kick in the bollocks.

We don't have to sell him-he's under contract for a while isn't he?

Until summer 2011. But we can't keep him here if he's unhappy, the players hold all the power now.

Well, it's devastating news for us but I don't begrudge Shay one bit. He deserves to be winning major honors and he's been incredibley loyal to us, but I'm just gutted that he won't be winning things with us

I hate this season so much.

Don't worry, we'll get more than we originally paid for him. Welcome to Mike Ashley's NUFC dream.

I wouldn't begrudge him a move to the top four, but I'd be annoyed if he left for Spurs. 

We don't have to sell him-he's under contract for a while isn't he?

Considering how good a servant Shay's been to this club he should be allowed to leave if he wants to imo. But not to Man City or Spurs 

.........but Kinnear said he was staying, only days ago.

Don't tell me Joe was bullshitting again. 

Been an absolute loyal professional, and have nothing but gratitude for what he's done for us.

To be quite honest, he deserves better than us.

Heard some ITKness about this a few days back from people with reasonable links to Given (or so they say) but I refrain from posting such information as it usually isn't true.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/despondent-given-ready-to-walk-out-on-newcastle-1220958.html

'Despondent' Given ready to walk out on Newcastle

 

Liverpool thrashing was 'lowest point' in Republic of Ireland goalkeeper's career

 

By Michael Walker

Friday, 2 January 2009

 

Shay Given's future at St James' Park is most uncertain this morning following the release of a statement last night from Given's representative Michael Kennedy that outlined the 32-year-old Newcastle United goalkeeper's dismay at the club's direction. Kennedy said that Given "feels compelled to consider his position" after last Sunday's dreadful 5-1 home defeat by Liverpool. Kennedy said that the game had been "the lowest point" of Given's career.

 

With Kennedy confirming that there is interest in Given regarding a January transfer – from Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham – it would appear that, after 11-and-a-half years on Tyneside, the hugely popular Irishman has run out of patience with the seemingly never-ending instability at Newcastle and would now be prepared to leave.

 

"Shay is very despondent following the very poor performance of the team against Liverpool last weekend," Kennedy said. "Having served the club loyally for over 11 years, Shay feels compelled to consider his position in the light of the interest being expressed in him by Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham."

 

It is not known whether there has been any bid from those three clubs yet. What price Newcastle would ask is also unknown.

 

Given was bought for £1.5m from Blackburn Rovers in August 1997, when Kenny Dalglish was Newcastle manager. He has been a consistently excellent performer, and Sunday's appearance against Liverpool was his 459th for Newcastle. He is third on the club's all-time list of appearances.

 

His good nature has also impressed supporters. In turn, he regards himself as a naturalised Geordie and his children have been born in Newcastle.

 

Given may yet stay if there is no offer Newcastle will accept. But what Kennedy's statement has made plain is the level of behind-the-scenes disenchantment among some players. In some cases this pre-dated Mike Ashley's takeover – Given questioned the club's direction three years ago when Sir John Hall and Freddy Shepherd were in the boardroom – but Ashley's perceived undermining of the previous manager Kevin Keegan has not been forgotten.

 

After Keegan's departure after the August transfer window, when there was speculation Ashley had put the entire squad up for sale, the senior players are understood to have been alienated by the lack of communication from the Newcastle hierarchy.

 

Ashley then put the club on the market, which further destabilised the playing staff, who had been heartened by the opening day draw at Manchester United, when Keegan was still in charge.

 

Hope evaporated with Keegan's exit. Out of the blue Joe Kinnear arrived at the end of September as Keegan's temporary replacement. After Sam Allardyce and Keegan, Kinnear was Newcastle's third manager in nine months.

 

Ashley, having decided last week to take the club off the market – though he would clearly accept a good offer – has seen Michael Owen effectively reject the offer of a four-year deal and Kennedy's statement will be a further reminder of the unease surrounding Newcastle. As of Monday, Steve Harper, Given's stand-in and another long-server, had not signed a contract extension.

 

In an ideal world Given's situation will be resolved at Newcastle, but the sort of strategy required to bring the club closer to silverware would have to be graphic and persuasive. Newcastle are at Hull City in the FA Cup third round tomorrow. It will be interesting to see whether Shay Given is there.

And I'll be devastated if he signs for Man City (who now represent everything I hate about football - i.e the money), and Tottenham (who I just quite simply despise to the point of it being seemingly irrational and over the top).

It is not going to send out a good message to prospective signings.