By Matthew Jones
October 27 2003

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has said that the rumours of manager Sir Bobby Robson's quitting St James' Park earlier this month have brought the club together. Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has said that the rumours of manager Sir Bobby Robson's quitting St James' Park earlier this month have brought the club together.

Shepherd and Robson publically allayed fears, which had wiped £8 million off the club's stock value.

Shepherd now says: "Bobby and I didn't want to do it because we didn't feel we needed to do it. We were worried it might ask more questions than give answers.

"However, our advisors advised us to do it and when you're a public limited company you have to do what you're told.

"Only the media and the public can say if it was a good idea. I still don't know."

Speaking to the Sun, he added: "The rumours have brought everyone at this club closer together. You always try to turn a disaster into a profit and I think this could be a profit for Newcastle.

"We have shown we have resilience within this football club and we have a great set of players.

"At the end of the day we have all come out of this stronger and more together and these players do back each other, there's no doubt about that.

"I know people criticise them and say this and that about them but I'm telling you, we have a great set of lads here."

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