ROBSON... I am disappointed not to be able to finish the job I came here to do

The English football world was yesterday shocked by the news that Sir Bobby Robson has been relieved of his duties as manager of Newcastle United.

Robson, now 71, took over the reigns at Newcastle in a time of crisis after the sacking of Ruud Gullit in February, 1999, and turned them round using a blend of youth and experience and got them as high as third place in the Premiership season of 2002/3.

Although Robson turned the club from relegation struggler to one regularly in the top five and playing in European competition, he failed to win a trophy during his time at St. James' Park and the club has made a poor start.

"I am massively disappointed not to be able to finish the job I came here to do," Robson said in a statement.

"I have immensely enjoyed my time here as manager, and I wish the club all the best of success in the future.

"At the present moment, I have absolutely nothing to say except to thank the Geordie fans for their tremendous enthusiasm, loyalty and support."

Sir Bobby Robson is best remembered as the man that nearly won the World Cup with England in 1990, when England were beaten on penalties by Germany, and the man that brought Brazilian star Ronaldo to Barcelona in 1996 when he became the huge star that he is today.

He received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in November, 2002, and had a statue erected of him at Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town where Bobby was a manger for 13 years between 1969-1982.

Sir Bobby has also managed clubs all around Europe, including PSV Eindhoven, Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona.

Although it is fair to say that finishing outside the Champions League placings last season was regarded as a failure, and that Newcastle has had a weak start to this season, it was a shock to hear that Sir Bobby, whose contract was to finish at the end of this year, had been sacked.

In May of this year Freddie Shepherd, Newcastle's chairman, insisted that he was not considering sacking Robson and he later said that, "you just don't sack Sir Bobby Robson".

Problems started to arise at Newcastle this season when their leading defender Jonathan Woodgate was sold to Real Madrid for £13.4 million. This after Shepherd had again insisted that they would not sell Woodgate for less that £50 million.

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