FOOTBALL legend Len Shackleton yesterday expressed his surprise that fans still think about him - 43 years after hanging up his boots.

The self-styled "Clown Prince of Soccer" - now 78 - made a special trip to Wearside to sign an oil canvas of him in action, lovingly painted by Newcastle supporter Alan Dobson.

Shackleton may be best remembered for his nine years at Sunderland but he is still revered by many Newcastle supporters who can remember him scoring six goals on his debut at St James' Park in the 13-0 defeat of Newport County.

Alan, who lives in Nedderton, near Bedlington in Northumberland, chose to paint "Shack" in the black and white stripes he wore for two years before his then record £20,050 transfer to arch-rivals Sunderland in February, 1948.

The retired advertising executive, who spent a month on the painting, said: "I never had the privilege of seeing Len in action but lots of older Newcastle fans still talk about how good he was. He did things with the ball players just can't do nowadays.

"I decided to do the painting from and old photograph in old cigarette-card style and I thought it would just finish it off he would autograph it for me. He phoned me from Tenerife, where he was on holiday, saying it would be a privilege to sign it - I thought it was somebody having me on."

Shackleton said: "It's a marvellous painting of me - it's a pity it's such a good likeness!"

l BRYAN "Pop" Robson, who was sacked by Sunderland six weeks ago from his job as Director of Youth, has been snapped up by Leeds.

The 55-year-old Wearsider is to join another long-serving former Sunderland employee at Elland Road, ex-youth development officer Jimmy Hagan, who was dismissed at the same time.

The highly respected duo have been brought back into top flight football by former Manchester United coach Brian Kidd, who was recently appointed head of the Yorkshire club's youth academy.

l SUNDERLAND are close to signing First Vienna goalkeeper Jurgen Macho, 22, on a free transfer.