By Tyne-Talk
May 22 2008

Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort is to step down this summer after just a year at the club. Mort joined the club as owner Mike Ashley took control, but the move appears to only ever have been temporary, with Mort always planning to return to his career in the legal profession after being granted a leave of absence to stabilise the club by his partners.

Mort played a big part in the employment of Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez, David Williamson, Jeff Vetere and of course current manager Kevin Keegan, as well as current deputy chairman Derek Llambias, who looks set to replace him.

A club source gave the following statement:

"It was always the scenario that at some stage Chris would return to his role at Freshfields in a full-time capacity. He's been a valuable figure since he arrived at St James' Park and he's certainly taken the club forward in his year as chairman.

During that time he has significantly improved relationships between the club and the supporters.

He's also done lots of good work in the community and met members of the public at sporting dinners and awards nights and he has been instrumental in appointing key members of the board to lay the foundations at Newcastle that will hopefully take the club forward in the future."

Mort recently praised the fans for their support over last year after a bad run followed by a good spell as the season drew to an end. He said:

"These are the months for which I must give most thanks to our supporters.

The support of the team during that period, both home and away, was fabulous.

To have sell-out crowds when the team was unbeaten was excellent.

However, to have 50,000 supporters cheering on the team when the team is struggling and 6,000 fans making the trips away I must thank them for their incredible backing."

Llambias To Replace Mort

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 22/05/2008 15:47

TyneTalk
22/05/2008 15:47

Llambias To Replace Mort

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exileonwearside
22/05/2008 19:27

that isnt an official club statement, as yet there hasnt been one

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MissC
23/05/2008 18:37

There is no mention of it being an official club statement ???

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exileonwearside
23/05/2008 19:13

you mention a club source giving a statement though. this isnt a club statement. its all in the language used. this is in fact the fella the chronicle, an almost completely busted flush as far as a reliable source of insider knowledge goes, making things up because he hasnt got a headline and the local paper survives on news concerning nufc.

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