A SMALL, tatty room measuring eight feet by eight feet underneath the main stand. It may not have been the most attractive place inside the grandeur Anfield surroundings but, symbolically, it was a priceless part of the the stadium's history and one that should never have disappeared.

But, despite being an important part of Liverpool's glorious past, the hallowed boot room was dismissed without a second thought by the new man in charge, Graeme Souness.

It may have only been a place of rest for the latest adidas, Nike and Reebok studs but it was also a significant part of the culture that was Liverpool Football Club.

When Souness was installed as Kenny Dalglish's successor 13 years ago it was his way of showing he was not afraid to make some of the most unpopular decisions. Out with the old and in with the new. But swopping the boot room for a new press office was like tearing the heart out of every Liverpool supporter.

It proved to be a wrong move by Souness.

He was on a hiding to nothing as soon as results turned against him and those were not too long in coming.

But what the abolishment of Bill Shankly's boot room did show was that the new man in charge had no hesitation in trying to combat a period of instability and decline that had set in during previous months.

A sign of things to come at Newcastle? Perhaps.

No-one, not even Sir Bobby Robson, could argue turmoil has steered clear of Tyneside and a strong character has been required to try to steady the rocky ship St James'. Now captain Souness will be the man hoping to steer the club back on course and towards a top-flight finish.

The Scotsman is not the fans' choice, far from it. And if he were to be as stupid as he was at Anfield and make a massive early mistake - like denying Alan Shearer the chance to enjoy a goal-laden swansong season before retirement - the knives will be out before supporters have the chance to shout 'sack the board'.

Fortunately for Souness he does not have as much to live up to as when he took over at Liverpool.

The Reds' memories from the 60s, 70s and 80s only acted as a millstone around his neck, while the same pressure will not be on his shoulders on Tyneside.

There will be that old headache of trying to land Newcastle its first trophy in 35 years but that will not have an immediate effect on the club's fifth manager in seven years.

"Everyone has pressure whatever walk of life they are in. I happen to like aggravation that goes with football management - it seems to suit my needs," said Souness, after taking over at Liverpool in 1991.

Middlesbrough's legendary midfielder may not have the backing from the stands but the Geordie faithful are such that they will at least give the new man in the dugout a chance to fight his case.

Support for Souness is understood to be so low that his appointment has even been likened to the day when Howard Wilkinson took over from Peter Reid at Sunderland - although the former has spent the last four years transforming Blackburn into a regular top-flight outfit.

Shepherd did have the option of former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and ex-England boss Terry Venables.

Hitzfeld would have brought European experience, but has no Premiership background; while Venables's last job ended in dismay when he left his post at Leeds.

Then there was Birmingham's Steve Bruce or Aston Villa's David O'Leary. Both have reputations as bright, young managers but both would have cost a fair few pound in compensatory packages.

Worth it? Obviously not in Shepherd's mind.

As for the other interested candidates: Glenn Hoddle, Gordon Strachan, Hector Cuper, Dick Advocaat and Phil Scolari. Disadvantages could have been found for all had any of them been installed.

One thing Souness is sure to arrive at Newcastle with is controversy.

Never one to shirk confrontation his first job will be to introduce a new code of conduct at the club.

At Blackburn, David Dunn and Dwight Yorke eventually departed following run-ins with the manager over hectic social lives. Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Patrick Kluivert and Titus Bramble could be first on the agenda for the uncompromising boss to deal with.

That sort of authority from a disciplinarian could be just what Newcastle's largely immature squad has been crying out for. And any player who fails to conform to the new guidelines plastered on the dressing room wall could be shown the door - as the likes of Yorke, Dunn and Andy Cole found out at Ewood Park.

Failure to bring Newcastle into line and to transform them into serious title challengers will lead to Souness' name being added to the growing list of sacked Newcastle managers before him.

But he is ready to accept most things.

After all he had to cope with death threats during his reign at Ibrox when he made Mo Johnston the first catholic to play for the Protestant club.

Such threats may not be about to arrive on his doorstep at Newcastle but a run of poor results between now and Christmas could lead to him hearing messages of a different variety from the vociferous stands at St James'. Plainly and simply: 'Souness out.'

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