Disgraced duo in return pledge

Newcastle United's disgraced directors Douglas Hall and Freddy Shepherd tried to smooth their return to the board yesterday by guaranteeing £10 million for transfers.

The duo, forced to resign in March amid newspaper allegations about their private lives and their attitude to the club's players and supporters, apologised to the fans for their "very stupid" behaviour.

However, surveys on Tyneside yesterday indicated that the vast majority of supporters are unhappy at their return. "The overwhelming opinion is that they shouldn't be back," said John Regan, secretary of the Independent Newcastle Supporters Club. "It reflects well on them if supporters are led to believe that they're thinking big. Now let's wait and see if any of these big names ever arrive here or if it's just been a smokescreen."

Shepherd insisted there were no empty promises. "I hope very much that there will be something exciting to tell the fans before the start of the season," he said. "There is money in the pot for new players. It's not my own personal money, it's the club's money.

"Don't forget I am a fan myself and all I can do is give a message of hope to our supporters. I am looking forward to some exciting times ahead."

Newcastle's manager Kenny Dalglish has made only one significant summer signing, the out-of-form France striker Stephane Guivarc'h from Auxerre for £3.5 million. Yet some supporters share Shepherd's optimism that the club, who struggled against relegation from the Premiership last season, will soon regain the title-winning potential shown under Dalglish's predecessor Kevin Keegan.

"They should be welcomed back with open arms," said Steve Wraith, editor of the fanzine No.9. "The only thing that disappoints me is that they did not come back earlier.

"They have always been there behind the scenes and they may as well have just come back straight away. People tend to forget they have done a tremendous amount for the club. I'm breaking out the champagne; it's about time this club had some stability."

Hall and Shepherd were largely responsible for funding the purchases of Keegan and Dalglish - including Alan Shearer for £15 million - and that financial clout, allied to their 66 per cent stake in the club, made their return all but inevitable.

"It was always going to be difficult for people to make decision with us on the outside," Shepherd said. "It does not make any sense for us not to be involved, so the decision was taken that we would come back for the benefit of the club. Douglas and I have seven years' experience at Newcastle and we feel the club should continue to benefit from that.

"Yes, we were very stupid in March and we apologise unreservedly for our behaviour, but we hope the fans are going to be concerned about what happens on the park."

Their return was welcomed by Denis Casidy, chairman of the club's parent company Newcastle United plc. "The board has balanced all things," he said. "Naturally we are aware of hostility from certain parties but we are not there to make popular decisions. I believe our wisdom will come through. We shouldn't forget that the three guys who chose Kenny are now back in place together - we are all united for the same ends."