Football News: Owens a goner as Newcastle freefall

Football News: Newcastle in freefall as Liverpool & Everton wait for Owen

Football news circulating on the internet has it that Michael Owen is wanted by Liverpool and Everton. Meanwhile Newcastles season is going into freefall, as they lost 3-1 to West Ham, with what can only be described as a hapless performance.

Reports are that Everont and Liverpool will approach Owen during the winter with a view to convincing the England hitman to complete a free transfer at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old was in and out of contract negotiations all summer long. The Toon at one point attempted to ease their cash-flow crisis by slashing 20 per cent off his wages, while later reports suggested a bumper £140,000-per-week deal was on the horizon.

The Tynesiders have been mired in turmoil ever since Kevin Keegan's dramatic resignation as manager two weeks ago: a replacement has still to be found and owner Mike Ashley, shocked by the levels of vitriol from supporters, has put the club up for sale, albeit at a prohibitive asking price of 450 million pounds (823 million dollars).

Such strife occasionally triggers a doughty defiance, but not with Newcastle. They slumped to an embarrassing home defeat to newly-promoted Hull last weekend and this performance, which leaves them second from bottom of the table, bordered on the shambolic, despite a late flurry prompted by Michael Owen's well-taken goal.

West Ham, sensing Newcastle's nerves, were in no mood for sympathy. It took them just seven minutes to break through, although even this was overdue. Etherington and Di Michele had already seen shots blocked before the latter finally cracked the Newcastle rearguard. After that the inevitable defeat followed.

Football news of this kind is only more torture for the poor Geordie fans. Their club is being dragged into the gutter by a woeful management team. Ashley, Wise and co have simply not got a clue about what it takes to run such a big and well supported club. The sooner they leave and Newcastle get some stability the better!