New Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is determined to keep England striker Michael Owen and Nigerian Obafemi Martins at the club after signing a three-year contract with the Magpies this afternoon.

Owen has been linked with Manchester United and a return to Liverpool but Allardyce has no plans to let him leave, despite the former Real Madrid striker being absent from a meet and greet session this morning.

"Michael was away in Ireland and sent his apologies but it wasn't hugely important all the players came back," said Allardyce. "But I will speak to Michael on the phone. The speculation around Michael will be resolved once we get to speak to him.

"You wouldn't want to lose your leading goalscorers and there are two fantastic goalscorers we want to keep at the club."

Allardyce admitted he had turned down Newcastle in the past but said: "I think there was a couple of years past where I declined the opportunity. Now I feel ready to import into Newcastle what I did at Bolton.

"I'm ambitious, I know this club is ambitious and I hope I can turn it around - get a trophy, get the club into Europe in the next few years."

Allardyce - who revealed there was no clause in his contract to release him for England in the future - confirmed he hopes to strengthen the squad this summer, but would also look to bring the famed 'scientific' approach and attention to  detail which worked so well at Bolton, to St James's Park.

"We will look at structuring behind the scenes, the sort of science and football way I work. We will look at what data and what information we need to start need storing.

"I will get the staff working with me, with maybe one or two additions in the future.

"I've got to bide my time, it doesn't happen overnight."

The big man also laughed off claims that his teams play unattractive football.

"The managers used to have to find answers for me beating them," he said. "You can call it a long ball or a long pass. They called it a long ball because they were jealous."

Popular opinion in Newcastle has been split of late with some fans suggesting Allardyce has not got the pedigree for their club. The new manager today asked them to be patient.

"I hope I can bring the success they are so desperate for," he said. "I hope they can be patient, it might not go right at the flick of a switch - there might be times when it doesn't go right, there might be sticky times in near future."

Allardyce also promised to deal with any unrest in the dressing rooms. Some players at the club have been accused of not taking their football seriously, most notably by former Man United midfielder Nicky Butt, who yesterday claimed that there are people there "don't want to play for the club".

"Hopefully, he will be brought into the club and sort a few things out," Butt said. "The majority of the players in the changing room work hard and are good professionals.

"But there are a few who, generally, don't want to play for the club. The sooner that is sorted out, the better.

"I am not one to criticise my team-mates, but there are genuinely one or two players who don't want to be here. There are some players who have bad spells, but they give 100 per cent in every game.

Speaking on the issue today, Allardyce said: "We should all pull together. If there's any problems I will find out what it is."

Sam Allardyce — factfile

1954: October 19 —Born in Dudley.

1971:Joins Bolton.

1973:Makes Bolton debut.

1978:Wins Second Division title, his only playing honour.

1980:Joins Sunderland, plays 26 games 2 goals.

1981:Joins Millwall for £95,000.

1983: June —Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies.

September —Joins Coventry.

1984:Joins Huddersfield.

1985:Returns to Bolton.

1986:Joins Preston.

1989:Joins West Brom as player coach.

1992:Returns to Preston as player coach, later becoming caretaker manager.

1994:Appointed Blackpool manager.

1996:Returns to Sunderland as director of youth under Peter Reid.

1997:Takes over at Notts County.

1998:Notts County win Division Three.

1999:Relegated from Division Two.

October —Appointed Bolton boss.

2001:Bolton win promotion to Premiership after beating Preston in play-off final.

2003:Bolton survive relegation on final day of season.

2004:Bolton beaten by Middlesbrough in Carling Cup final but finish eighth in Premiership.

2005:Bolton finish sixth in Premiership to qualify for UEFA Cup for first time.

2006:Loses out on England job to Steve McClaren.

2007: April 29 —Resigns as Bolton manager.

May 12 —Bolton qualify for the Uefa Cup for the second time

May 15 —Appointed Newcastle manager on a three-year contract.