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January 31, 2003
(Friday)
Woodgate's past
still an issue
WITH the tortuous
saga of Jonathan Woodgate's £9 million transfer
from Leeds United nearing completion last night, Sir Bobby Robson was
preparing himself for the difficult bit. Critical messages from
people uncomfortable with the signing of a man convicted of affray 14
months ago have already been received by the club, but the Newcastle
United manager is determined to confront the issue head-on.
Provided that he passes a medical and agrees personal terms at St
James' Park today, Woodgate will officially become a Newcastle
player. The 23-year-old England international is "a top-class, top-
drawer centre half," Robson said, but, with two court cases fresh in
the memory, the ethics of the deal, to some at least, is now a
salient question.
"I'd rather not have the controversy, but we can't avoid it," Robson
said. "We are getting some pretty nasty stuff at the moment, but
Newcastle are black and white in every sense, we've got a
multinational squad, we work with Kick Racism Out of Football,
Jonathan is a close friend of Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Rio
Ferdinand and that speaks for itself."
Woodgate was found not guilty of assaulting Sarfraz Najeib, an Asian
student, in Leeds city centre three years ago and, although the trial
judge placed on record that race played no part in the incident, the
defender's public image has suffered. He was subsequently sentenced
to 100 hours of community services and fined a club-record eight
weeks' wages by Leeds.
The Najeib family are in the process of bringing a civil action
against Woodgate and Lee Bowyer, his former team-mate — who was
cleared of all charges — which is expected to be heard later this
year and guiding the player through any legal matter will now be
Newcastle's responsibility. In the meantime, letters and e-mails
condemning the deal have been sent to St James' Park.
On the thorny subject of Woodgate's past, Robson had a point of
principle to make. "If we had any inkling that he harboured racist
thoughts, we wouldn't have him at this club," he said. "If he comes,
I think it will be salvation for the boy. His ability is not in
doubt, but I think he has to be given another chance. Moving away
from Leeds will be a good thing for him. He's served his sentence and
paid his dues."
Woodgate's Middlesbrough roots and acquaintances are also a source of
concern. "I've got a clause in my contract saying that I should live
within 20 miles of the club and I think players should do the same,"
Robson said. "We might have to move Jonathan and say to him: `you're
paid by Newcastle, you play for Newcastle, come and live in
Newcastle'."
If there is an element of risk to the transfer — West Ham United's
signing of Bowyer from Leeds earlier this month provoked minor
demonstrations outside Upton Park — Robson believes it to be
justified. In another season of sharp progress, the centre of
Newcastle's defence and their inconsistent form away from home have
been rare frailties. This addresses it. They are second in the
Barclaycard Premiership and deeply ambitious.
"We're bringing one of the North East's best young talents back
home," Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, said. "I know he's
from Middlesbrough, but this is his region. It's where he belongs.
Hopefully, there'll be no problems with his personal terms and we
know we are signing a world-class player."
Shepherd's brinkmanship finally paid dividends. It was not until late
on Tuesday night, in the Chelsea Grand Harbour Hotel, that he met
Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman and — after days of prevarication —
submitted a formal bid for Woodgate. The offer was for £8 million,
with another £1 million based on Newcastle's future achievements;
Ridsdale reluctantly accepted yesterday.
"Provided we get him, I just think he's a great signing," Robson
said. "He's quality, he's a good ground player and he does well in
the air. I remember seeing him two years ago, when Leeds played
Barcelona; his team were being murdered, but Woodgate was brilliant.
It was 1-1 and he thwarted them. He was sensational. I thought, `I
wonder what he's going to be like when he's older'.
He's English and he's in the age bracket we like. We're buying for
the future and this is very much in keeping with that."
For the immediate future, Woodgate must contend with a thigh strain
that is expected to rule him out of Newcastle's game against Arsenal
on February 9. He is not eligible for European matches and his debut
could conceivably be Newcastle's visit to Leeds on February 22.
It is with the funds accrued from reaching the second phase of the
Champions League that Woodgate has been bought and the desire is for
Newcastle to repeat their heroics of last season — when they finished
fourth — and improve on them. "We like being in the Champions
League," Robson said, "and we are going to try and use him to get us
back there. We want to do better next year."
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Ridsdale: We lost gamble
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Toon agree £9m Woodgate fee
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