All too easy to criticise Shepherd here when I don't know what is going on, so I'll take the unprecedented step of wishing him well with his tranfer dealings this summer. ;o]

We are just as ambitious as you are.

This was the pledge from Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd to his £6 million man Kieron Dyer today.

In a national newspaper today Dyer has said that he is ready to quit St James's Park if United do not match his ambitions.

Dyer said: "Newcastle have been linked with a lot of big names and we need four or five top quality signings if we are going to challenge for Europe.

"If they don't come up with them then I will have to meet the manager and the chairman to see what is going on.

"I am a very ambitious person

and I want to win things in my career."

United feel that they are ambitious because they are determined to hold on to Dyer and they are in the market for some quality signings.

Indeed Shepherd told me today: "We can tell Kieron Dyer that we are as ambitious, if not more ambitious, than he is.

"Bobby Robson may be on holiday at the moment but we are in almost daily contact and he is working tooth and nail to bring in some new players.

"We are trying to bring some top quality players as soon as we can."

Shepherd had a furious row with Dyer's agent Jonathan Barnett last week when he told him to keep his nose out of United's business, and it looks as

though this row is rumbling on.

Things took a different slant later today when Jonathan Barnett issued the following statement: "I have spoken to Kieron Dyer and all this has been taken out of context.

"He has three more years of his contract to run with Newcastle and he intends to see out every minute of that contract.

"He is very happy at Newcastle. All he wants to do is to play for them and get back into the England side.

"He knows Newcastle United are an ambitious club and he's fine about all this."

Shepherd took a week's holiday in Majorca last week when he negotiated a deal with his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright which resulted in an £8million fee being agreed for England Under-21 international Francis Jeffers.

But he has no plans to take any more holidays in the close season until United break through in the transfer market.

United have spent £75 million to make St James's Park one of the best grounds in Europe and another £100 million on players since Euro 96.

But United know that as far as the fans are concerned this is deemed to be in the past and action is needed in the close season.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Answers

Possibly a bit disrespectful to spell his name wrong!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Here's me thinking this was a post about cleaning products.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

"see out every minute of his contract"

...and then leave on a Bosman.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

At least the board are offering him a new contract now and not nearer the end of his contract. It's a shame that it's not just about giving him the right deal for once, there are so many other reasons why he won't sign a new contract. To fix these will cost a lot, lot more than Dyer's new wage packet!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001