WHEN Sir Bobby Robson was summoned for a meeting at St James’ Park with Freddy Shepherd at 9.30am yesterday, a big decision was imminent. As far as the 71-year-old manager was concerned, it was about which centre half the club were to sign as Jonathan Woodgate’s replacement. Within an hour, Robson had been relieved of his duties at Newcastle United and was fielding a sympathetic telephone call from Spain.
“I’m sorry, Gaffer,” was the gist of Woodgate’s conversation with Robson and, although it was hardly revelatory, it contained a minor irony. Much against the manager’s better judgment, Newcastle’s one defender of world repute was sold to Real Madrid for £13.4 million. It was another strike against Robson’s authority, another blow to a proud man.
Just after midday, Robson’s BMW was speeding out of the training ground. His belongings in a black holdall, he had stepped into his car clutching a thick file of paper and a golf club. Four young supporters sat in the road and chanted: “Bobby in, Freddy out.” After spending so long biting his tongue about the confusion on Gallowgate, an emotional Robson was now chewing on his upper lip. Glassy-eyed, he raised a h and in farewell.
The final act was brief — a short address to the players not reporting for international duty, tears in his office — but Robson’s has been a long goodbye. Since the club’s failure to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League 12 months ago, Newcastle have been riven by strife and upheaval, exacerbated when they lost in the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup and finished fifth in the Premiership. Summer proved a cruel, cruel season.
Publicly, Robson insisted otherwise, but the signing of Patrick Kluivert was instigated by Shepherd, the chairman, and so, too, was that of Nicky Butt. Woodgate’s sale was presented as a fait accompli, while the courtship of Wayne Rooney did not address Robson’s requirements for the team. It had taken him 18 months to convince Shepherd to buy Stephen Carr, the right back. Privately, Robson referred to Paul Stretford, the agent, as Newcastle’s “chief scout”.
Shepherd’s confirmation that Robson would not be offered an extension to his one-year contract — Charlie Woods, the real chief scout, and Gordon Milne, the director of football, were told the same — undermined his position and crushed the morale of his staff. Robson equated it to lifting Newcastle to the top of the stairs and having the carpet whipped away. A dressing-room containing combustible personalities ran riot.
Kieron Dyer — who refused to play at outside right against Middlesbrough — and Craig Bellamy would test the patience of a saint, but Robson’s relationship with Alan Shearer was pivotal. It became strained. Robson saw a wonderful player on the wane, Shearer heard of attempts to sell him to Liverpool. Robson suspected a manager-in-waiting, Shearer suspected he was being forced out of Tyneside.
Like Ruud Gullit, his predecessor, Robson was dismissed immediately after omitting Shearer from the starting XI for a league match, but even though the former England captain is likely to play an active role in the new regime, it was coincidence. “I was told it was because of results,” Robson said. Four league matches this season have brought no victories. Their last win was against Chelsea on April 25. It was Woodgate’s final appearance for Newcastle.
The end result of the chaos was drift — tinged by poison — and while, as recently as Sunday, Shepherd’s opinion was that Robson would be given six matches to restore purpose, there was a power play. Shepherd owns 25 per cent of the club but the leading shareholder is Douglas Hall and it is understood that his influence was exerted. Sir John Hall, the former chairman, is also in the country.
Robson, who has yet to agree to a severance package, now heads abroad for a four-day break. He hopes to return to Newcastle and speak to the 12 players on international duty next week. Naturally, he is distraught, but not contemplating retirement. “I’ll see what offers come my way,” he said. John Carver, the head coach, has been placed in charge of first-team affairs.
“I’m disappointed,” Robson said. “It has stopped me doing what I’ve always wanted to do, but I’ve had a marvellous time at the club. Newcastle is my club, where my father brought me as a kid. I’ve had five fabulous years there and I’d like to wish everybody all the success in the world.
“I know what I’ve left. I’ve left the best squad of players the club has assembled for many years. There is no better group of fans in the world. They have been fantastically supportive to me and I’ll now do my best to be one of them. Today has not been easy for me, but I will get on with my life, while Newcastle must continue to make progress.”