Fighting talk

And so the feud between John Barnwell of the League Managers Association and our very own Freddie Shepherd over Glenn Roeder's appointment edges ever closer to a bout of fisticuffs outside in the car park. Fat Fred's latest comments are a combination of "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" and "Chicken!"...

""If he [Barnwell] was standing in front of me, I would punch him on the nose. But he hasn't got the courage to pick up the phone to speak to me - he's got my number. I'll throw Frank Clark [the LMA's vice-chairman] into that as well ... another Geordie and ex-captain of Newcastle".

And this from a man who threw the book at Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer for their on-pitch scuffle last April.

Naturally it's very disappointing that the LMA have been so critical of Roeder's appointment - he, incidentally, feels like "a football being kicked around" - but Shepherd spoiling for a fight is just another incident in a long history of unsavoury and undignified behaviour from our chairman.

You got what you wanted, Fred, and there's nothing the LMA can do to change that - so shut the fuck up, calm down and get on with planning for next season.