NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Craig Bellamy was last night at the centre of a racist abuse storm after an incident at a nightclub.

The striker was in Cardiff for the build-up to Wales' Euro 2004 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Serbia Montenegro when the alleged incident occurred.

South Wales Police said they were investigating claims that an Asian man was racially abused in the city centre in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Bellamy missed training yesterday as inquiries continued into the incident, which took place as the rest of the Welsh squad assembled at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel.

Wales manager Mark Hughes said: "There has been an incident, but no, he has not been sent home. He didn't train on Monday but I hope he will be fit for the weekend."

Ceri Stennett, spokesman for the Football Association of Wales, said: "We are investigating, but wish to make no further comment."

Bellamy has been suffering a tendonitis problem which is understood to have led to him missing training.

But the incident is the latest in a series to see the £6m forward hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

During this season's Champions League campaign, Bellamy was fined £40,000 by Newcastle and banned for three European games after headbutting Dynamo Kiev's Tiberiu Ghioane.

And his on-the-pitch behaviour came under further scrutiny in November when he was sent off for clashing with Marco Materazzi during Inter Milan's 4-1 win at St James' Park. He was subsequently banned for another three games.

Northumbria Police also cautioned the controversial star after a woman claimed she was attacked outside a nightclub last year.

In November 2001, Bellamy was fined after being sent home, along with three teammates, from a training camp in Spain for failing to attend a dinner in honour of Newcastle president Sir John Hall.

Meanwhile, chairman Freddy Shepherd last night heralded a golden era for Newcastle United under Sir Bobby Robson after the Magpies revealed that their Champions League adventure produced a stunning £13m bonanza.

United, eliminated from Europe's elite club competition last week after reaching the last 16 for the first time, yesterday reported record half-yearly profits.

Excluding player trading, operating profits leapt by 183 per cent from £7.1m to £20.1m in the six months to January 31.

United are third in the Premiership, five points behind leaders Arsenal but only three in arrears of Manchester United, who visit St. James' Park a fortnight on Saturday.

Shepherd concedes the championship may be beyond his side this season, but with a Champions League place looking assured, he is convinced that 70-year-old Robson is fashioning a squad capable of sustaining a title challenge for years to come.

''I think we should go on to win trophies in future seasons and Bobby could well be at the helm,'' said Shepherd. ''I think he has the right ingredients to do that.

''Bobby will probably go on until he is 80. If players can't learn from him, who can they learn from?

''You have to get it right on the field and he has been the catalyst for the stability of the club over the past three years

''Both on the field and off it, it has been a great season up to now. I don't think we will win the title, but we will be chasing Arsenal and Manchester United all the way down the home straight.

''Who's to say what could happen if they slip up? But we are happy with third and if we can finish there it will be great progress.

"We have a record set of results reflecting both the club's participation in the Champions League and a continuing effort by the directors, management and staff to make the club one of the best in Europe.

"I believe we are ideally placed to challenge for honours in the next five years. The challenge now is simple - to win something."

Newcastle also announced that overall profits before interest and tax increased from £1.4m to £11.5m. Turnover climbed by 57 per cent from £35.8m to £56.2m, match revenues were up by 41 per cent and television and broadcasting income was also up by 126 per cent from £9.5m to £21.5m.

Some of the improved turnover, however, was swallowed up by increased expenditure on players' wages, a figure which rose by 47 per cent to £22.9m.

But Shepherd said: ''If you want to go forward you need a big squad. We are happy with the situation and we have signed most of the senior squad on long-term contracts.

"We feel that we have invested in young players who are the envy of the Premier League.

"The two jockeys out in front can't take their eyes away from us. Manchester United still have to come to our place and that will be a moment of truth - a six pointer if ever there was one.''

Newcastle's squad strengthening continues unabated. Ipswich Town's England Under-21 midfielder Darren Ambrose was back on Tyneside yesterday to complete his medical before rubber-stamping a move which could cost Newcastle as little as £1.5m.

Ambrose, who has made 37 appearances for Ipswich this season scoring 11 goals, is likely to return to the East Anglian outfit on loan for the rest of the season to help in their push for the play-offs.

* Newcastle reserves' game away to Middlesbrough has been rearranged for Monday, April 28.

* Former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit was officially unveiled as the new coach of Holland U-19s yesterday and is to be promoted to an assistant coach of the senior national team should the Oranje reach Euro 2004 in Portugal.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.