Newcastle Chairman: Big Four don’t want Michael Owen

By: Bob | May 10th, 2007

Let’s say that you run a company and you have a high-priced employee who is a stud but who also has been sick for a while. That employee finally comes back to work and finally starts earning his paycheck. The next thing you know that employee is starting to attract attention from other companies who would like his services now that he is healthy and back working again. How would you show the employee that you want him to stick around at your company? Would you tell him that he is basically shite and that no quality company in their right mind would want him?

No, you probably wouldn’t do that, but then again your aren’t Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and for that reason alone you should consider yourself lucky. Shepherd employed this convoluted logic today when he spoke out against Michael Owen. Wee Mikey has finally returned from injury and the rumor mill has him departing for one of England’s big four. This hasn’t sat well with Shepherd who has had to pay Owen gobs of money to sit out injured.

“These suggestions will not impress our fans after what has happened in the last couple of years,” Shepherd told the Daily Express. “The loyalty this club has shown him over the last two years when he had injury problems in his first season and has missed virtually all of this season deserves something in return.

“I’m telling Michael he has two choices: he either comes out and tells our fans, who have taken him to their hearts, that he is happy here – or I tell him that not one of the big four clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, are interested in him. Because that is the case. He has had a really serious injury and no one, least of all one of the biggest clubs, is likely to take a risk at this stage.”

Now is it just me or does Owen really only have one choice? After all, Shepherd has basically just told the English speaking population that none of the big four is interested in Owen. At this point he probably doesn’t need to call him into the office and tell him that himself. Extorting loyalty is an interesting tactic.

Anyone care to venture how this is going to play out? On the one hand Shepard is right about the risk involved with Owen. On the other hand there must be interest in his services otherwise this wouldn’t be an issue. Where do you think Michael Owen will play next season?