Boot Camp

Newcastle are staying at Carton House in Kildare. The kicked off their boot camp activities in Ireland today. With no Alan Shearer while he waits for some new owners to arrive, Chris Hughton is in charge. The players will have to take their pre-season medience in threes. under a training prgramme drawn up by Alan Shearer, the players are being asked to turn up to three sessions a day, starting at 7am.

The hotel's website sells pitch is: 'it gves you more reasons to indulge yourself. This luxury hotel in Kildare Ireland offers a range of leisure activities from golfing to spa treatments and outdoor activities to relaxing nature walks. The Spa at Carton House Kildare offers luxurious pampering and a range of treatments to radically enhance your well-being.'

Chris Hughton told The Chronicle:

“We’re going to a training camp to get away and work in a different environment. I think it’ll be good for the players. What they will do in Ireland is work very, very hard. They’ll spend a lot of time together, and that will be valuable time as a group. We want a good spirit in the camp.

On the Sale Chris Said:

Obviously, there are things going on outside our control. But what we can do is work the players hard, and prepare them for the season in a proper and correct way. We’ll be away for five days before the Shamrock Rovers game, and we’ll get a lot of work done. It’s going to be a long season, so we need the players to be as fit as possible.”

Shay Given Supports the Toon

talking to The Chronicle he said:

“I don’t want to say too much on the situation up there because it is bad enough for people. “There are not many too many positives for the fans right now. The sooner the situation is sorted out and the club is sold the better for the fans. I really hope it goes through in the next few weeks, because the sale has gone on for a while now. You want it sorted in time for the start of the season.

“I know the players are determined to get back where they belong as soon as possible. That place is the Premier League. The other major factor is the fantastic support up there. They are going to have to add to the squad as well, but they will be in there fighting – and they have a good chance of returning straight away to the top flight.”

Shay left the Toon in January for Manchester City after 10 years at St James' Park.

Two Bids Plus Reported

Derek Llambias MD & Chaiman told the waiting world "There have been more than two bids at £100m, we are giving interested parties all the help that they need,"

Any deal of around £100m would represent a significant loss for billionaire Ashley who is estimated to have put around £244m into the club during his time in charge. When he initially put Newcastle up for sale last September, he hoped to get about £300m. But relegation from the Premier League saw the asking price slashed.

Owner Mike Ashley, who spent £134.4m to assume control in May 2007, announced in June that he would entertain bids of £100m for the Championship side.