Newcastle United welcomed Kenny Dalglish to St. James’ Park in January 1997, with the Scotsman changing the ‘King’ Kevin Keegan.
However whereas Dalglish helped Newcastle end second within the Premier League on the finish of the 1996/97 season, he was compelled into promoting Peter Beardsley, Lee Clark, Les Ferdinand and David Ginola – gamers who had all been essential figures for the Magpies underneath Dalglish.
The explanation, it later transpired, is as a result of house owners John Corridor and Freddy Shepherd have been seeking to float the membership on the inventory trade, and believed promoting gamers would assist the membership’s monetary place develop into stronger.
Newcastle promote wave of stars underneath Kenny Dalglish
Academy graduate and boyhood Newcastle fan Robbie Elliott additionally left in the summertime of 1997, regardless of having performed 29 occasions within the Premier League in the course of the 1996/97 season.
Establishing himself at left-back upon Dalglish’s arrival on the membership, Elliott additionally scored seven targets that time period, however was quickly heading in direction of the exit door when a £2.5m bid was accepted from Bolton Wanderers within the second tier. It is a transfer he later regrets agreeing to, as he clarifies what occurred.
“It wasn’t Kenny’s determination to promote me,” Elliott solely reveals to FourFourTwo. “The restricted firm in command of Newcastle on the time selected to promote me, Lee Clark and Les Ferdinand.
“I cherished taking part in underneath Kenny and was trying ahead to a different season with him when Bolton’s provide got here in. I used to be harm that it was accepted and, being younger and naive, I signed for Wanderers.
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“Don’t get me unsuitable, I cherished my time at Bolton, however leaving your boyhood membership is a giant name and I ought to have calmed down and thought it by means of.”
4 years after leaving Newcastle, although, Elliott had returned, along with his 2001 free switch serving to him re-live the dream of taking part in at St. James’ Park.
“I lived each Geordie’s dream,” Elliott provides. “It’s humorous the way it turned regular to me, spending my days at this magnificent membership, surrounded by world-class footballers I idolised – Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley. However, in hindsight, it was loopy. Not a day goes by once I don’t take into consideration these occasions.”
