6:03am Saturday 17th March 2007
SOUL searching has become something of a national sport on Tyneside, but as the inquest into Newcastle's dispiriting UEFA Cup exit begins in earnest, a reflective Freddy Shepherd has reaffirmed his faith in Glenn Roeder and promised to back his manager to the hilt this summer.
The acrimony that accompanied Thursday night's 2-0 defeat in Alkmaar shows no sign of abating, with the search for a scapegoat overshadowing preparations for tomorrow's Premiership trip to Charlton.
A number of the club's players have come in for concerted criticism in the wake of yet another capitulation on foreign soil, with the insipid efforts of both Obafemi Martins and Damien Duff eliciting a particularly angry response from Newcastle supporters.
Ironically, both players were signed by Glenn Roeder last summer and while the future of the Magpies manager remains secure despite yet another trophy-less campaign on Tyneside, the Londoner has not escaped from Thursday's debacle without blame.
His failure to sign adequate defensive cover in either the pre-season or January transfer windows exacerbated an injury situation that has undoubtedly been unfortunate, and forced him to field the unexposed Paul Huntington in an alien left-back role in the club's most important match of the campaign.
Roeder, who was also criticised for leaving James Milner, arguably Newcastle's most impressive performer this season, on the bench in the DSB Stadion, bemoaned his side's defensive inadequacies in the aftermath of Thursday's defeat.
And with Titus Bramble having harmed his chances of securing a new deal by losing Danny Koevermans as the Alkmaar striker scored his side's crucial second goal, the Magpies manager is sure to make a radical overhaul of Newcastle's defensive resources his number one priority this summer.
Shepherd has repeated Roeder's assertion that the current campaign should not be regarded as a failure.
But after insisting that Newcastle have to take a significant step forward next season, the United chairman has promised to make money available once the transfer window re-opens.
"It was always going to be a tough season, and that was before a ball was kicked in anger," said Shepherd, who appears to have ridden out the storm that followed November's domestic defeat to Sheffield United.
"Losing a legend like Alan Shearer left an almighty hole because he's been such a massive figure at Newcastle for ten years, and then our record signing (Michael Owen) was ruled out for the season while playing for England at the World Cup.
"It's been a tough year and, under the circumstances, I wouldn't call it a failure. Of course we're desperate for success, but not too many clubs would have coped with the problems we've had. Everyone's disappointed about the Alkmaar result, no-one more than me. But we won't feel sorry for ourselves and must make sure Newcastle United comes back better and stronger next year.
"The return of Michael and Shola (Ameobi) will certainly help, that's like two new signings for starters.
"And of course the board will do everything it can to back Glenn Roeder in the transfer market. We've already discussed transfer targets and hopefully they'll come off in the summer."
In the meantime, Newcastle have to lift themselves for the final nine matches of a Premiership campaign that could yet offer an unlikely source of salvation. Should Manchester United face Chelsea in the FA Cup final, eighth place in the Premiership will be enough to secure qualification for the Intertoto Cup. Newcastle currently trail eighth-placed Tottenham by five points.
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