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Mass Exodus on Tyneside? Tuesday 26th May 2009
Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday confirmed their relegation to the Championship and there are sure to be lots of comings and goings at St James’s Park during the off-season.
The Magpies fans and Fantasy Stakes players who have backed Newcastle’s bedraggled players this campaign have been completely let down.
Newcastle only found the back of the net 40 times in the Premier League all season and their strikers have been misfiring left, right and centre.
One of the biggest disappointments for Alan Shearer’s side has been the form of Michael Owen. The England international has only scored eight times in 28 league games and alongside Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins, has failed to steer the Magpies away from the drop zone.
Caretaker boss Alan Shearer has said that a complete clearout is needed at the club if they are going to bounce straight back to the top flight and fantasy football players will be keeping an eye on the transfers this summer, especially the outgoing moves from St James’ Park.
Damien Duff has pledged his future to the club after his own-goal condemned Newcastle to defeat at Villa Park. Duff has had a relatively good season compared to his team-mates, scoring three times in 30 games and filling in at left-back.
But Duff is the only player to have committed himself to the Magpies so far and with such a high wage bill, owner Mike Ashley might be forced to sell the bigger earners in the squad.
Even Alan Shearer doesn’t know if he will stay on as manager next season, saying: “This club needs big changes, that is there for all to see.
“This is a fantastic football club, with amazing support, but it needs a hell of a lot of hard work for whoever comes in. It needs totally rebuilding.”
