Newcastle 'ban' Shepherd and Hall from St James's Park
31 October, 2007
NEWCASTLE United are believed to have banned former chairman Freddy Shepherd from St James's Park in an astonishing row.
Billionaire owner Mike Ashley is said by today's Daily Mirror to be involved in a business wrangle with the Shepherd family and former vice-chairman Douglas Hall after his £133m buyout of the club.
It culminated in the Shepherd family not being allowed into their executive box for last week's home game against Tottenham Hotspur.
Freddy's brother Bruce was turned away, and it is believed Hall, who lives as a tax exile in Spain, is also not welcome.
Shepherd, who made £37.65m out of selling his 28 per cent stake in the club, always said he wanted to remain a supporter after bowing out.
The Hall family held 41.6 per cent of the shares, and made £55m from selling up to Ashley in July.
The paper quotes a 'United insider' as saying: "Freddy was away, but Bruce wanted to use the box, as he usually would. "But he was told by a club official that it had been closed off. "It meant Bruce could not get into his VIP seats, and he was not very impressed to say the least. "Freddy was furious when he found out, but there is nothing he can do about it."
Nufcmismanagement view:
Brilliant.