NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd has threatened Michael Owen amid claims the striker wants away from St James' Park.
The Magpies chairman is furious at reports linking the clubs record £17m signing with a departure from the North-East and has urged him to publicly declare his commitment to the cause.
The England striker has played just 13 senior games for Newcastle since his 2005 transfer following a succession of injuries and Shepherd believes he owes them some loyalty.
The St James Park supremo has warned those who purport to speak on behalf of the 27-year-old to "stop trying to flog Owen from under our feet".
Responding to reports he could be available for as little as £9m, Shepherd said: "These suggestions will not impress our fans after what has happened in the last couple of years.
"This report was a very thinly-disguised attempt to flog Owen from under our feet, sourced very close to the player or those who look after him. "The information must have come from there, not from our club."
Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo
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