NEWCASTLE United and Middlesbrough will hold a summit meeting tomorrow night to sort out their differences over the controversial postponement of Saturday's Riverside derby.

United manager Sir Bobby Robson accused Boro of engineering the call-off because of injury problems and the fact that the match came in the wake of a crushing 5-2 home defeat by Aston Villa.

But Boro insist the game was postponed on the advice of the police, council safety officials and local referee Jeff Winter, after heavy snow made conditions in and around the stadium treacherous.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb yesterday revealed that officials from both clubs will gather tomorrow, when the issue is sure to be the top topic for discussion.

It is understood Tuesday, March 4 has been pencilled in as the date for the rearranged game, and Lamb maintained: "There's no problem between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

"I've spoken to their chairman Freddy Shepherd over the weekend, not on this issue, but to congratulate him on the signing of Jonathan Woodgate.

"We're meeting on Wednesday night for a couple of drinks - and I think Freddy is buying!''

Lamb refused to be drawn into a war of words with Robson, adding: "It's not for me to say whether Bobby has overreacted or not. Football is an emotional and passionate game and he spoke as he saw it.

"We were as disappointed as Newcastle. The opinion of the police and Middlesbrough Council, who run our Safety Advisory Committee, was that the state of the stadium, inside and out, meant it was unswise to play the game.

"Jeff Winter was called in by the League and we tried to get the match referee Andy D'urso, but he had other things on.

"Jeff Winter inspected the pitch, which is his domain, and he rightly said the pitch was in perfect condition, but that he had to concede the safety issue to the views expressed by the police and Middlesbrough Council.

"It wasn't the football club's decision. The safety committee and the police have the final say. It's not for me to try to overrule the police or the safety committee. They're the experts in crowd conrtol and safety.

"Can you imagine what would have happened if we'd tried to overrule them, if someone had been injured or worse? Then the football club would have been held responsible.''

Meanwhile, former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall has given his backing to Sir Bobby Robson's Magpies revolution, labelling the current crop of youngsters as the best the club has ever seen.

Hall, who was at the helm as Newcastle turned from a club of the brink of extinction into one of the best in the Premiership, gave his verdict on the playing staff now assembled at St James' Park.

He believes Robson has put together the best Newcastle squad in his lifetime - better than the Keegan team that threw away a 12-point lead at the top of the Premiership in the unforgettable 1995/96 season.

When Tyneside entrepreneur and property developer Hall got a foot in the boardroom back in November 1991, the Magpies were struggling at the bottom of the old Division Two.

Along with Magpies hero Keegan, appointed as a replacement for Osvaldo Ardiles a few months later, he oversaw the club's transformation in just three years into a Premier League force.

Newcastle are currently third in the Barclaycard Premiership and have reached the lucrative second phase of the Champions League.

The club splashed out £9m last week to bring England defender Jonathan Woodgate to St James' Park on transfer deadline day.

And Hall firmly believes Sir Bobby's squad is now capable of finally adding some more silverware to the club's trophy cabinet.

''I've never been excited about the future of Newcastle United as I am now,'' he said.

''We have probably got the bargain of the decade in Jonathan Woodgate and I have sat back and marvelled at the way Freddy Shepherd and Bobby Robson kept their nerve throughout the negotiations.

''Now we probably have the best squad we have ever had."

The club appeared to be on a downward spiral when Sir Bobby took over in September 1999. Ruud Gullit left a side bottom of the Premiership with morale in the dressing room at rock-bottom.

But Robson quickly turned things round, and is now rapidly becoming as big a legend at St James' Park as Keegan.

''As a fan, because that's all I am now, I want to thank Sir Bobby and the board for making all this possible," added Sir John.

''What has been achieved at St James' Park with our magnificent stadium and the players we have and the fact we are third in the Premiership and still in the Champions League is nothing short of tremendous.''

Hall is now the club president and is content to leave the day-to-day operations to chairman Shepherd and his son, Douglas.

He added: ''I've got to say that Newcastle United are extremely well run both on the field through Sir Bobby Robson and off it with the board of directors.

''Yes I am close to them - but this does not mean I have not criticised them and they have had some flak.

''But after listening to Peter Ridsdale and seeing what has happened at Leeds United I can now reflect on what a marvellous job everyone has done at St James' Park.''

* Newcastle are to allow Wayne Quinn to stay on loan at Sheffield United for an extra two weeks. The 26-year-old defender has made six appearances since moving to the Blades on a month-long deal in early January.

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