Given still not offered contract

[kennethlindheim]

Just been reading that Shay has still not been offered a contract. The board rightlyfully so are stopping a lot of contract renewals because with a new manager coming in there are bound to be a lot of changes. But one thing is for sure Shay Given would be in every managers first team plans, so its about time NUFC pulled their finger out and offered Given a lucrative contract after the 9 seasons of loyal service he has given to the club.

[Pennywise]

But Given shall be regular - with or without the new manager.

[russe||]

How old is he, how long has he got left on his current deal?

[bluetoon]

Shay given has saved newcastle in crucial games this season if it wasn,t for him they could be in a worse position than they are.he has covered up for boumsong so many times it,s unbelieveable.he fully deserves every penny he asks for.

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by russe||

How old is he, how long has he got left on his current deal?

28? He could have another decade at the place and he'd be worth it, he's been the best keeper in the league every season since Seaman went off the boil

[russe||]

I've just looked, he turns 30 next week. Also I think his contract runs out next summer.

VDS contract runs out next summer too. If Newcastle aren't going to offer him a new deal then we should.

[kennethlindheim]

I can't see why the board should be struggling to offer him one! He has been our most consistant performer for 4 seasons, he is loyal and a fantastic team player. Where is the logic in keeping him waiting?

[kennethlindheim]

Shay Given has pledged his future to Newcastle - whoever is appointed United's new manager.

The Irish goalkeeper wants to agree a new contract with United this summer, regardless of the identity of Graeme Souness' successor.

Another trophyless season of disappointment prompted fears Given would start next season elsewhere.

But the 29-year-old, despite talks on a new deal remaining unresolved, insists he will stay on Tyneside.

"Hopefully I can stay here whoever comes in. I am hoping to be here for quite a while," said Given, although reiterating his wish for Martin O'Neill to land the Newcastle job.

"I'm very disappointed not to have picked up any medals in the last nine years after I signed," he admitted.

"But this is still a big club, I am relatively young for a keeper (29) with a few good years ahead of me yet.

"We are some way behind Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, there is no hiding from that, but not as far behind as the league suggests.

"And I don't think we're a million miles away from the likes of Tottenham, so we can get back into the top five or six."

On O'Neill, who could arrive at Newcastle within a fortnight if Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is appointed England's new coach, Given added: "I would love to see Martin here.

"Someone of his calibre would be fantastic for myself, the players, the fans and the club as a whole."

[ToonMonster]

he's the best! i doubt and hope newcastle wont sell him, he's kept us from relegation!

[Mr Brightside]

Originally Posted by russe||

I've just looked, he turns 30 next week. Also I think his contract runs out next summer.

VDS contract runs out next summer too. If Newcastle aren't going to offer him a new deal then we should.

We should buy Shay Given. End of.

If he's out of contract next season, we'd get him for about £3m.

VDS has done great, but he's 34 pushing 35 and bringing in Shay would be great business.

I doubt it would go down well with the Toon though.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by Heinze57

I doubt it would go down well with the Toon though.

That isn't our problem. If their club was willing to sell it is up to them.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle are on the brink of making their most important signing of the summer after Shay Given revealed he is close to agreeing a new contract to extend his career at St James's Park.

But, although the Irishman is preparing to commit his long-term future to Tyneside, he does not consider himself to be Alan Shearer's natural successor as club captain after admitting last night that he expects Scott Parker to be appointed as United's next skipper.

Talks have progressed well between Given's representatives and Freddie Shepherd in recent weeks and, following confirmation of the club's qualification for the Intertoto Cup, the 30-year-old is poised to deliver more good news to the Gallowgate faithful.

"I certainly hope that my future is here," said the goalkeeper who, having already spent nine seasons in the North-East, has no intention of leaving. "We're in advanced talks about my contract at the moment and I'm hoping to get it sorted sooner rather than later.


"You saw the interaction with the fans (following Sunday's defeat of Chelsea) and I think they want me to stay as well. I hope we can get it sorted - we're quite close at the moment, so I'm hoping to get it done and dusted."

Given will remain in the North-East for Shearer's testimonial on Thursday and will hope to have finalised his new contract before joining up with the Republic of Ireland squad in two weeks' time.

His holidays will be curtailed by the club's Intertoto involvement - with pre-season training set to resume on June 21 - but, with his commitment to the club intact, Given (pictured, right) is relishing the chance to get started again.

"This is one summer when we won't mind coming back early, I don't mind at all," he said. "I have got internationals on May 24 and I hope to have a few weeks off after that and that's plenty.

"It's fantastic to be playing in the Intertoto Cup.

"People say that it's a rubbish tournament, but you only have two games to play and then you're in the Uefa Cup.

"Newcastle's a big club that deserves to be in Europe. I have personally missed playing in Europe and I'm sure the rest of the lads and the fans have as well.

"We're all delighted. Europe felt like it was miles away when Glenn (Roeder) took charge and it was all about staying in the Premier League.

"If you had suggested anything else - never mind a place in Europe - people would have thought you had been for a good night out.

"We're all leaving for the summer break very, very happy. We're all leaving on a high."

Shepherd will now increase his bid to install Roeder as the club's permanent manager.

He needs the approval of a majority of Premier League chairmen to bypass the Uefa Pro Licence rule.

And the first decision to be made by the new boss will be who to appoint as United's next captain as life after Shearer begins.

Given has worn the armband with pride in the striker's absence but he does not expect to do so on a full-time basis.

He said: "I don't think I will be the captain next season, although, in my three games with the armband, we have won all three so perhaps I should be.

"I have been very proud to lead the team out and no-one can take that away from me.

"But I think Scott Parker will be captain next season because he had the armband when he was in the team before and Alan was out. We will wait and see, but it won't be the end of the world if I'm not captain."

While replacing the departing Shearer will be the priority this summer, the continued presence of Michael Owen at St James's Park means Newcastle do have a proven Premiership predator to fill the 36-year-old's boots.

Finding a successor to Given would have been just as difficult.

And the Irishman will be the foundation upon which the club's new manager - whether it be Roeder or someone else - will build once his signature has been secured.

"There has been uncertainty for the last three seasons and we just need a bit of stability," added Given.

"But this is Newcastle United.

"In an ideal world we would like to have a steady ship and push for the Champions League, which is where this club belongs.

"I'm sure we will invest money in new players this summer. It's something we need to do."

[kennethlindheim]

SHAY Given has signed a new five-year contract with Newcastle United that keeps him at St. James' Park until 2011.

It was the news all Geordie fans wanted to hear as the brilliant Irish goalkeeper shook hands on a deal that effectively keeps him at Gallowgate for the rest of his career.

Given has just enjoyed yet another outstanding campaign for the Magpies, and his performances duly saw him voted into the Premiership's team of the season.

The 30-year-old also wore the captain's armband for the final three matches of the season as United finished with a flourish to claim seventh spot and a chance to reach Europe via the Intertoto Cup.

He told nufc.co.uk: "I'm extremely delighted to get my new contract sorted.

"I'd like to thank the Chairman and the board for what they've done and also all the fans for the support they've given me since I joined Newcastle United.

"I've already had nine great years here and I'm now looking forward to five more. Hopefully we can win something in that time because I'm still very hungry to win things as a Newcastle player.

"I've said before that I feel like an adopted Geordie now. The fans here are second to none and St. James' Park is a fantastic place to play football."

Chairman Freddy Shepherd told nufc.co.uk: "Getting the deal done with Shay is a great way to start the summer.

"It's been a fantastic last week for the club, beating Chelsea on the final day of the season to earn another crack at Europe, all the emotion of Alan Shearer's wonderful and unforgettable testimonial and now making sure the best goalkeeper in the Premiership has another five years at St. James' Park.

"Shay was voted into the Premiership's team of the season and I don't think you'll find many people who would argue with that.

"When the team walked around the pitch on Sunday after beating Chelsea you could hear the fans singing his name - Shay calls himself an adopted Geordie and our fans love him.

"Some of the saves he has made over the past season have been absolutely brilliant.

"He's Mr Reliable - he's only missed two Premiership matches in the last five seasons and we wouldn't swap him for anyone."

Given has just completed his ninth season on Tyneside, having joined from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 1997.

He has made 380 appearances for the club and his new deal means he could well break Jimmy Lawrence's all-time appearance record of 496 that has stood since 1922.

Mr Shepherd added: "Shay is still only 30, so as a goalkeeper he has plenty of years left at the very top.

"And we are delighted that he will spend them with us at Newcastle United."

Brilliant news. Glad he finally signed the contract.