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February 5, 2003
(Wednesday)
Woodgate denied
Elland Road return
Jonathan Woodgate
will not be allowed to play for Newcastle when the
Magpies visit his former club, Leeds United, on February 9.
The England centre back's £9 million move provoked outrage among
Leeds fans but he will not return to Elland Road wearing a Newcastle
shirt.
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, who has been the subject of fans' ire
in recent weeks, inserted a clause in the deal to stop Woodgate
making his Magpies debut at his former club.
Newcastle agreed to the clause and Woodgate, who is currently out
with a thigh injury, cannot make his first appearance for his new
club until March 1, when Chelsea visit St James' Park.
'Obviously it's quite political if Jonathan came back to Elland Road
so soon after leaving," club secretary Ian Sylvester told the BBC.
'We just agreed that we didn't want that to happen. The player's not
fit anyway so I don't think it's an issue.
'It's something Leeds United wanted so the chairman asked me to put
it in the agreement. Newcastle were quite happy to go along with it.'
Leeds also attempted to stop Lee Bowyer playing for West Ham at
Elland Road on Saturday, but the Hammers refused and the England
midfielder is set to start.
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