Lee Clark had two spells at Newcastle United, but his second was not quite like the first.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Lee Clark has slammed ex-teammates Albert Luque and Celestine Babayaro, stating they had no commitment to the Magpies in his new book Black or White, No Grey Areas, as quoted by The Chronicle.
The Wallsend-born midfielder played for the club during 1990 and 1997, being a part of Kevin Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’, before joining rivals Sunderland. Clark would return to Newcastle in 2005, but the Magpies were a shadow of the side he had played for in the nineties.
Steve Watson – West Bromwich Albion in action against Celestine Babayaro – Newcastle United
Clark would play under Graeme Souness, but was not impressed with some of the players that had been brought to the club by owner Freddy Shepherd to replace some of the stars they had lost.
“Some of the replacements, the likes of Albert Luque and Celestine Babayaro, came in commanding massive transfer fees and on enormous wages, yet lacked any commitment,” Clark says in his book, as quoted by The Chronicle.
“Regardless of whether the team won, lost or drew, it didn’t affect how they felt.
“For someone like me, it was particularly galling to have that type of personality in the dressing room.”
Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark
Newcastle endured a dark period after Sir Bobby Robson was sacked, with players coming to Tyneside for a payday rather than for love of the club. Luque moved to Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna, but scored just one league goal, which came in a Tyne-Wear derby, somehow making him the subject of a song still sang by the Geordies.
Fortunately for Newcastle, these dark times appear to be over, with only players who have a desire to wear the black and white shirt coming to the club and helping them back up to the Premier League.
General view outside St James’ Park
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