Cisse Trains Alone As Ashley Fumes Over Wonga Row!

Last updated : 14 July 2013 By Footy Mad - Editor

Senegalese striker Cisse reported yesterday to train with his ­team-mates – but was sent to the gym to train on his own because of the ­dispute.

Cisse, a Muslim, has objected on religious grounds to ­wearing the logo of the pay day loans company on both training and playing strips.

The striker has offered to wear a charity-branded shirt rather than the logo of the club’s new sponsors.

Upon his return from international duties on Friday, Newcastle told Cisse to stay away from training until the matter was resolved. He turned up yesterday and it was then matters came to a head.

Pardew’s squad, including Hatem Ben Arfa, who is also a Muslim, have been training in Wonga-branded kit for the last week.

The stand-off could alert other Premier League clubs and there has also been interest in Cisse from Germany and Russia.

Only 5% Wanted Pardew - What's The Percentage Now? PLEASE VOTE


Mike Ashley stunned us all ... and I mean ALL ... when he sacked Chris Hughton and brought in Alan Pardew.

Apparently, Ashley knows Pardew from a London casino the pair used to visit, and the former West Ham boss talked his way into the job.

At the time the appointment was made, ourselves (NU-MAD) and the Chronicle held a poll to ask the Newcastle fans if they were happy with the new manager.

Both polls showed only 5% of Toon fans were happy, and if the truth was known, I'd say 3% of those were Mackems gatecrashing the voting!

So ... with Pardew two and half years into the job ... has he turned the voting around? Has he won you over?

We were still in the relegation dog-fight until Swansea won at Wigan a week before the season ended, and there was growing concern after heavy home defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool.

Pardew gave his excuses, saying his squad was "wafer thin and too small to tackle a long season".

Yet on Thursday - having lost Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch and Dan Gosling on the way to Crystal Palace (FOUR PLAYERS LESS) he said: "I'm not too concerned because we have a big squad".

Confused? We certainly were.

So click the button - PLEASE VOTE.

Is he the man for the job ... or not?

VOTE HERE ....

http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp