Sir John: Managers let Magpies down

Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall has hit out at the club's recent managers for squandering more than £200million on sub-standard players.

Hall, the club's majority shareholder and president, believes a succession of poor buys by managers Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness have cost them since he stepped down in 1997.

Hall told the Daily Mail: "It's clear to me and everyone that some of the players brought by previous managers simply haven't been good enough."

He added: "In fact, our fans must look in amazement at some of the vast sums of money paid out for players who aren't good enough for this club.

"Since the Halls and the Shepherds took over the club we have spent more than £200million on players, as well as making St James' Park into one of the best stadiums in Europe, so none of our managers can say that we have not backed them."

Hall, who is currently in discussions to sell his majority shareholding, is backing manager Glenn Roeder to turn around the club's fortunes.

He added: "I am sure Glenn will get it right, but he needs the strength of the fans to get him through.

"We have also got to look at ourselves and maybe appoint a director of football to take some pressure off the manager and make sure we take advantage of modern technology."