Ruud Gullit began the biggest clearout in Newcastle United's history yesterday when he put eight members of his senior squad up for sale. Less than 24 hours after demanding that the board provide adequate funding for a major spending spree, Gullit moved to raise cash with an early-season sale.
Players who seem to be surplus to requirements as the Dutchman begins to fashion a side in his own distinctive image are Gary Speed, David Batty, Alessandro Pistone, Stephane Guivarc'h, Steve Watson, Robert Lee, Warren Barton and Steve Howey.
In the immediate aftermath of last Sunday's defeat by Arsenal at Highbury, Gullit insisted that he must be allowed to invest heavily if Newcastle are to keep pace with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. "I need new players and I need them now," he said.
However, Since January Newcastle have spent £26 million on new recruits and now have 55 full-time professionals on their books. Chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "There are no spare lockers left at St James' and there is no more room on the team bus."
Tim Sherwood, Blackburn's captain, wants to join George Graham at Tottenham. He had a proposed move to White Hart Lane blocked by the manager Roy Hodgson earlier in the season and said yesterday: "There was a chance for me to go but Blackburn stood in my way. I don't know if there is still a chance for me to go home to London, but with George at Spurs I'd rather be there than here."
Italian footballers are ready to go on strike in protest at the current drugs controversy, according to players' union boss Sergio Campana yesterday. Asked if the Serie A should be stopped by strike action, as it was in March 1996 for just one day, Campana said: "In the current climate, stopping the championship for at least six months would be an adequate response.
Leeds United expect to confirm Leicester City's Martin O'Neill as their new manager within 24 hours. The Yorkshire club yesterday made an official approach to Leicester seeking formal permission to offer O'Neill the chance to succeed George Graham at Elland Road. If the 46-year-old O'Neill does accept the Leeds offer, he may be installed as early as tomorrow afternoon so becoming the third Leicester manager in four years to be lured from Filbert Street. The Leeds board met in on Sunday and O'Neill was the unanimous choice.
With O'Neill certain to bring his own backroom staff - John Robertson, Jim Melrose and Steve Walford - caretaker-manager David O'Leary is likely to find himself surplus to requirements, which may pave the way for him to be reunited with Graham at White Hart Lane.
Peter Schmeichel's return to action after suffering a stomach muscle injury in the Champions' League draw at Bayern Munich is ahead of schedule. Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson expects Schmeichel to play for Denmark against Switzerland on October 14th.
