Sam's Best Quality ... His Honesty

Allardyce: "My man-management style is probably my strongest side. I think I am very good at working people out and very good at communicating with people and asking people to do the right things to bring success to the club.

"You have to be very self-disciplined, you have to be strong-minded, which I am.

"If I have to be ruthless, I will be. I need to imprint my own style as quickly as I possibly can in terms of what we need to do to bring success to the football club.

"My experience in the past stands for itself to show everybody what I have done in the past, particularly at Bolton.

"If I can implement that here at Newcastle United, that is going to bring them more success than they have had in recent years.

"If that is the case, we have a bright future to look forward to. But it is a big challenge. I know about the past and I am here for a big challenge. I love the challenge and hopefully in the end, we are going to be very successful together.

"I know about the injury problems here. That side of it lies in one of my expertise areas. I used to deal with the oldest average age squad at Bolton for two or three years, but had the fewest injuries, and that is why we managed to gain success.

"If I can do that here at Newcastle with the players we have already and keep them fitter and stronger and playing more games than they have ever played before, that in itself is going to bring better results and better team spirit and a better, happier camp for Newcastle for the future."

As for our dear chairman ... did you laugh when he turned to the camera and showed the pain he was suffering with a rib problem? The boys in the SKY TV room were doubled over!

Shepherd couldn't host the meeting because, apparently, he couldn't talk. But he found his voice when the TV crew went away.

Shepherd: "It has taken three years, but now we have finally got Sam. Everybody knows we tried to get him in 2004 and at the time it was not possible because of contractual arrangements with Bolton which he honoured.

"But we have managed to get him this time around."