Sunday Express Article - Utter Rubbish!

Last updated : 05 August 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Toon boss Sam Allardyce said he was fed up with the reports on Martins, and the player himself said he was happy to fight for his place. And the very fact Martins is the ONLY Toon striker this pre-season to make himself available for all of Newcastle's friendlies, must stand for something.

But the Express have come up with:

NEWCASTLE United are ready to sacrifice top scorer Obafemi Martins to ease a growing cash crisis on Tyneside.

The breakdown of Kieron Dyer's £5million move to West Ham has set the alarm bells ringing in new owner Mike Ashley's boardroom at St James' Park.

Ashley suddenly flexed his muscles on the Dyer deal on Friday, demanding an extra £2m from the Hammers who refused point blank to consider any increase and promptly pulled the plug, leaving the England player in limbo.

Billionaire Ashley is refusing to be a generous benefactor when it comes to transfers, though he sanctioned a buying spree by manager Sam Allardyce on the condition that much of the cash was recouped.

Allardyce has spent £6m on Manchester United striker Alan Smith and around £5m on bringing in defenders Ivica Dragutinovic and Jose Enrique from Seville and Villarreal respectively.

Now it's understood Newcastle have let it be known they are prepared to raise cash by selling Martins, who cost £10m from Inter Milan last summer.

That will annoy many Newcastle fans but Allardyce knows he has to wheel and deal - which wasn't in the brochure when he answered ex-chairman Freddy Shepherd's call.