Shepherd Insists Big Sam Is NOT The Man For Toon

With the fans voicing their opinion on under-fire Glenn Roeder on Saturday, the feeling is that Allardyce has paved the way to arrive at Newcastle. But Shepherd has moved to rubbish the rumours and he insists he has not spoken to Allardyce.

Shepherd: "I've never spoken to Sam Allardyce and he has never spoken to me. I don't know where all this is coming from.

"I'm not going to comment any more on it. I had the same thing last year. It is getting crazy.

"We'll get the season out of the way, and then start saying things."

He said last month: "If we avoid relegation Glenn Roeder will be the manager next season".

Meanwhile, Roeder holds his position and came out fighting.

Roeder: "I believe I will be here next season. What has happened here this year has been out of my control and I believe I deserve to go into a second season.

"We're all big boys and I understand the rules of football, but things have happened to me this year that have been out of my control.

"The people with any understanding will know the problems the club has had this year, which have been out of everybody's hands.

"If, come Christmas, we're not where we ought to be - in that top six or within a point or two of the top six - and we have one or two injured and not 12 injured, I would accept the questions that are being asked now.

"I feel I deserve to go through the summer. Judge me in a normal season, without those injuries, around Christmas time."

But the fans have seen and heard enough of Glenn Roeder. The worst record of any manager in the history of football - West Ham (relegated), Watford (relegated), Gillingham (92nd in the league when they sacked him!) - we don't want to add to those sad statistics!