Rift Between Owen And Big Sam Deepens!

Last updated : 15 October 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

The Manchester City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, is reported to be ready to take advantage of the escape clause that Owen stipulated when he signed for Newcastle from Real Madrid in August 2005.

He signed in a £17million transfer deal that brought him a four-year contract and an estimated wage of £103,000 per week, and ex-Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd still defends the transfer.

"He wouldn't have come if we hadn't agreed to his demands", said Freddy.

Now it is known that Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce attempted to pull Michael Owen out of England's victory over Estonia, and the rift between player and manager deepens.

The People (another London-based rag that gets its claws into Newcastle's business every now and again) says the revelation will widen the rift between Owen and his Newcastle boss Allardyce.

And it is likely to lead to Owen quitting St James' Park when the transfer window opens in January.

Mark Taylor, Newcastle's head of Sport Science and Medicine, wrote to the Football Association last week asking for Owen to be relieved of his England duties on the grounds of his lack of fitness.

The England medical team ignored Newcastle's request, preferring to make their own assessment of Owen, and also to listen to the player's views about his fitness.

They then went along with Owen, who declared himself fit to face Estonia at Wembley yesterday, just a fortnight after having stomach surgery in Germany.

Owen refused to answer the question on Saturday "have you and Sam Allardyce fallen out over your inclusion in the England starting line-up?".