Mackems' Caldwell bid turned down?

Last updated : 14 January 2004 By Martyn Elliott

The Scotland international is a distant fourth choice in the running for a spot in the centre of our defence and looks set to leave St James’ Park when his contract expires in the summer.

A report in the Evening Chronicle claims though that Mackem chief Mick McCarthy is trying to arrange an immediate move for Caldwell.

However, the fact that the cash-strapped Nationwide League club aren’t prepared to actually part with any money for the player hasn’t tempted Sir Bobby to leave himself short of cover at the back for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are one of approximately 19 Premiership clubs to be linked with a bid for Manchester United’s want-away England midfielder Nicky Butt.

It seems to me that some hacks are linking Butt with as many clubs as possible now, merely to increase their chance of writing one of those nauseating, self-aggrandising ‘You read it here first’ articles when he actually does move.

They are probably the same reporters that started the ‘AC Milan to buy Emile Heskey’ rumours that we were asked to believe this morning.