Premier League - Martins: I want Toon stay

Eurosport - Fri, 12 Jun 16:28:00 2009

Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins admits he would like to help Newcastle back into the Premier League, but he knows the crisis-torn club are likely to sell him.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Newcastle Martins - 0

With Newcastle managerless and up for sale after their relegation to the English Championship, it would be easy for Martins to look for an escape route from St James' Park.

The former Inter Milan star insists he would be happy to stay but, with Arsenal and other top European clubs interested, it seems certain Newcastle will opt to cash in on his 10 million pounds valuation to soften the financial blow of relegation.

"I hope I am not sold," Martins told the Evening Gazette: "If the club decide to sell me, I have no choice but to go. But my aim is to stay and help get Newcastle promoted next season.

"I love living in Newcastle, and there are few better places to live and play.

"I know the club is for sale and that is hard for the fans. Yet I hear there could be some light at the end of the tunnel eventually."

Meanwhile, talks over the future ownership of Newcastle were ongoing as interested parties prepared to make their moves.

It is understood the front-runners in the race to buy out owner Mike Ashley are ready to conduct due diligence as they prepare to firm up their intention to make a formal bid.

There have been reports on Tyneside that a South African-led consortium is among the most advanced potential bidders, while former chairman Freddy Shepherd has been repeatedly mentioned.

However, sources close to the club have suggested there is strong interest from elsewhere.

Investment bankers Seymour Pierce, whose chairman Keith Harris is handling the sale, has been in contact with up to four prospective purchasers, including the Singapore-based Profitable Group, but there is still some way to go before the club could change hands.

The players are due back for pre-season training on July 1, with the Championship campaign starting in eight weeks' time, although there is as much work to be done on the playing side as there is behind the scenes before then.

Newcastle currently have no manager - Joe Kinnear's contract has expired and Alan Shearer was employed only for the final eight games of last season.

The 38-year-old former England striker has made no secret of his desire to take the job on a permanent basis, but the current regime has little intention of appointing either him or anyone else with several of the prospective new owners having indicated they want to take that decision themselves.

AFP

Comment 12 - 31 of 51

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Nice one Martins. You signed a five year contract. The­ least you could do for the club is to complete those 5­ years. Good loyalty from Martins.

    From Jason A, on Sat 13 Jun 5:06AM

  2. He's strong he's fast he has such a­ power.He's good!!!!!!!!

    From mohamad_abdullahsani, on Sat 13 Jun 3:28AM

  3. Because we are a great club and a great city­ bass_alick! U Numpty!

    From handoviron, on Fri 12 Jun 11:33PM

  4. FU CK U NEWCASTLE HATERS
    howay newcastle on the­ chapionship tour we go!!
    still the best club in the­ world !!!!!!!!
    nufc till i die

    From Grant, on Fri 12 Jun 11:18PM

  5. i­ think............................................nocock­ bindipper....................................is­ @#$%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From newcastleian1, on Fri 12 Jun 11:06PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHY WAD ONYWAN WANT TAY STAY OT THOT SARRAY EXCOOSE FAE­ A FATBAL CLOB?

    From Donney, on Fri 12 Jun 10:21PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I­ think..................................................­ .......................................................­ ...........................Newcastle are S.H.I.T!!!!!

    From , on Fri 12 Jun 10:13PM

  8. Obafemi Martins is a mad man! Why would anyone refuse­ offers from top clubs to remain at Newcastle.­ Craziness..

    From bass_alick, on Fri 12 Jun 9:54PM

  9. Martins, I'll tell you what to do then mate. Tell­­ the current regime that you want to stay until new­­ owners take over. Then you go in and see them and say­­ "look, if you sell me, most of the fee will go to­­ me to pay up the last two years of my contract and I­­ will feel terrible about that because over the next­ two­ years I will probibly have forgot I ever played­ for­ you". Then you tell them you love the club­ and the­ fans and love living here that much that you­ will play­ for us next season for a reduced salary of­ £25000 a­ week, that should do the trick and good luck.

    From john.connolly01, on Fri 12 Jun 9:09PM

  10. I'm sorry but he's not a Championship player;­ he is a luxury we can't afford and that's not­ just on the financial front. I think the boy Beckford­ at Leeds would be an ideal replacement; and even better­ news is that Leeds would gladly do a swap with Smith­ (would he go there though). Thanks for the memories­ Oba, but it's best for all concerned if you move­ on, which we al know . . . . you will.

    From cameron w, on Fri 12 Jun 6:52PM

  11. martins for sunderland can go wrong with the best­ striker newcastle have got

    From mlsks, on Fri 12 Jun 6:52PM

  12. Is it just me or does anyone else see the two sides to­ the story. Of course he wants to stay a Newcastle,­ it's not that nobody else wants him he would make a­ fine bench addition to most european teams at the­ least. Now lets be real though if you where on a bloody­ fortune and the club want to sell you after a­ relegation Is there any way he will come close to­ matching his current wage.... NO at least with­ N'castle his wages cannot be altered until end of­ contract. Money the route to all lives.

    From stewart f, on Fri 12 Jun 6:46PM

  13. I'm a Sunderland fan, and I think this is­ premiership news as there are prem teams interested.­ Same as transfer news on Aguero and David Villa is prem­ news at the moment. I also think his remarks are­ genuine, though I understand the cynicism against­ modern players - I'm sure Newcastle is a nice­ place to live and I'm sure the fans have made him­ more than welcome. I'm also sure that he and the­ fans understand why he'll be moving on - good luck­ to the lad. He was the one man I thought might keep the­ geordie's up and I'd love to steal him off them­ - I'm sure that would go down well. I'm also­ positive that I'll get a lot of petty abuse at­ suggesting it, which I won't be replying to as­ I'm not interested in such squabbles.

    From richard_halma, on Fri 12 Jun 6:28PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He's a liar. He'd be off like a shot if anyone­ decent had already bid for him. I remember him being­ quite eager on a proposed move to Fiorentina when it­ was mentioned, a week or so ago. But most clubs­ won't be so keen on signing him now as he's­ helped a team to get relegated. It's a nice­ sentiment Oba, but an empty one.

    From Charlie G, on Fri 12 Jun 6:18PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Why is the heading under premier league news?­ Yahoo=fail

    From Jesus, on Fri 12 Jun 5:58PM

  16. silver n is right, he knows hes going to be sold so hes­ just showing other clubs that he has the right stuff­ i.e. i am loyal, i am a team player. i love oba and­ would love him to stay but he was always going to be­ one of the first ones out the door

    From papillon soo soo, on Fri 12 Jun 5:58PM

  17. martins is a loyal magpie, he realizes that the players­ didnt perform on the pitch and hes willing to help­ bring us back up..i just hope some of other players­ will feel the same. kevin nolan is a bad example as a­ deal to hull city looks likely even though hes­ underperformed in 6 months of being at the toon

    From dan9, on Fri 12 Jun 5:54PM

  18. cant pass. cant score. gives the ball away alot.and­ arsenal are after him. get real.

    From cannybiz123, on Fri 12 Jun 5:48PM

  19. comment 11 jack you're an idiot div one, there­ isn't a div one any more its the championship get­ with the times nub. If you and the other idiot who­ posted are really that bothered dont read the article.­ All the cynics out there can read into this article­ which ever way they want to, but he did try in every­ match he played in unlike, some of the $@£* that played­ last season. Owen to mention just one, oh yh and Owen­ and owen and owen, the Little waster couldn't care­ less for this club. None of the other players have came­ out and said anything like this except for steve­ taylor.

    Thank you for making a lot of fans feel, that­ little bit better.

    From jason b, on Fri 12 Jun 5:40PM

  20. He's a big time player. He said this because he­ knew he will be sold.

    From Silver N, on Fri 12 Jun 5:36PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account