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 homeowners John Corridor and Freddy Shepherd had been seeking to float the membership on the inventory alternate, and believed promoting gamers would assist the membership’s monetary place turn out to be 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 instances 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 answerable for Newcastle on the time selected to promote me, Lee Clark and Les Ferdinand.
“I beloved enjoying underneath Kenny and was trying ahead to a different season with him when Bolton’s supply 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 flawed, I beloved my time at Bolton, however leaving your boyhood membership is a giant name and I ought to have calmed down and thought it by.”
4 years after leaving Newcastle, although, Elliott had returned, together with his 2001 free switch serving to him re-live the dream of enjoying at St. James’ Park.
“I lived each Geordie’s dream,” Elliott provides. “It’s humorous the way it grew to become 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 after I don’t take into consideration these instances.”