Is Sir Bobby Jealous of Chelsea? No!


By Matthew Jones
November 8 2003

Magpies' boss Sir Bobby Robson has insisted that he would not like to play Russian roulette with Abramovich, stating that he would rather have the backing he gets both on and off the field from his Geordie chairman Freddy Shepherd any day.

JEALOUS OF CHELSKI?


Magpies' boss Sir Bobby Robson has insisted that he would not like to play Russian roulette with Abramovich, stating that he would rather have the backing he gets both on and off the field from his Geordie chairman Freddy Shepherd any day.

Claudio Ranieri has spent a whopping £108 million on players since the close season, while Sir Bobby has only brought in one new face - Lee Bowyer - who came on a free transfer.

After supervising today's training session before flying down to London, Sir Bobby told Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle: "Everyone's a little bit jealous of what's happening at Stamford Bridge, but it's certainly made things interesting.

"Maybe none of us would really need £108 million to spend - but we would probably like £40 million!

"Abramovich has virtually bought them a new team. The nearest we've had to that in England was when Jack Walker fostered the development and security of Blackburn Rovers, though it was not to the same financial sum.

"I don't know what the financial situation was at Chelsea last season, or how close they were to going into administration, but you could say he's saved a big football club and I imagine everyone connected with Chelsea is elated with things right now.

"But I'm happy with the way things are at Newcastle. In Freddy Shepherd we have a chairman whose heart is with the club and who provides the money as and when he can.

"Believe me, he does his very best for Newcastle United."

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