Did Roeder Urge Bernard To Take Toon To Court?

Last updated : 13 September 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor


... has warned Olivier Bernard not to waste the opportunity he has been handed.

Bernard has rejoined the Magpies for a second spell just 18 months after he left the club because of a row over wages. Previous to that he took the club to court because he wanted to join West Ham (and it was Roeder who tried to get him!), but the court ruled he stay and see out his contract.

Bernard has been trouble in the past, and after he joined Southampton (and saw them relegated), a host of clubs have given him a trial and sent him packing. Rangers took him last season, but were quick to dump him in the summer.

Bernard cannot live on past glories, and Roeder knows the Toon fans were split over his return, when they expected someone of the quality of Wayne Bridge. But, as Roeder says, only one man can put right.

Roeder: "He's been given an opportunity I don't think he thought would come again. I can only give him that opportunity but he now has to meet me more than halfway. I don't think he thought he would ever put on a Newcastle shirt again. So it's a case of, `Show me what you can do, Olivier'."

"I tried to sign him at West Ham but he stayed here and had a fantastic time. He hasn't had much of a pre-season at Rangers. We now need to push him hard over the next couple of weeks to get him to the level of our players."