Date of Birth: 14 03 1975
Place of Birth: Easington
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: England
Steve Harper Rumours and Transfers
10 08 2007
Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has said he could need to strengthen his goalkeeping options.
The Magpies tactician will be without 1st-choice keeper Shay Given for the start of the new season due to a troublesome groin injury.
Allardyce is thinking about strengthening as he is against throwing youngster Tim Krul, who is on loan at Falkirk, in at the deep end should anything happen to back up Steve Harper.
"I am sure he [Given] will be okay in 2 or 3 weeks, however if anything happen to either keeper from then on we must decide if we require another one," stated Allardyce.
"[Krul] is inexperienced, young and with good potential. I do not want to put him in a situation that he is not capable of coping with. Finding another top keeper is something I must do."
20 06 2007
Alan Shearer has reignited his grudge with Craig Bellamy by warning new manager Sam Allardyce to steer clear of re-signing him for Newcastle.
Bellamy was linked with a return to St James' Park as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has said he will unload the forward after only a season with the beaten Champions League finalists.
The new Wales captain was also linked with West Ham, Blackburn, Juve and Roma last week however Shearer – among those who endured a tempestuous relationship with the forward during their Newcastle days – remembers his disruptive influence more than most.
The former England captain was also sent abusive text messages by Bellamy when the latter was in the end sold by Graeme Souness.
Bellamy is alleged to have taunted Shearer with, "Your legs are gone. You're too old. You're too slow," after Newcastle's 4-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Man Utd in 2005.
Shearer was mentioned to have shaken visibly with rage and threatened to "knock his block off".
Allardyce has already signed Joey Barton and Mark Viduka however Shearer fears Bellamy would also be lined up as the manager is on the verge of being handed substantial funding by new billionaire owner Mike Ashley.
Shearer said, "I was having several days away in France with Gary Speed and Steve Harper and the wives and I picked up a newspaper. I was having a fantastic day however when I read Bellamy for Newcastle, I thought I would definitely must have another drink, so I had several. Has no one found out their lesson about signing him? If only Rafa Benitez had rung me, I would've informed him exactly what he was like. I hope there is not anything in it. It could be interesting, especially with Terry McDermott still here, because there is a scuffle at Anfield when Craig and Terry were coming down the tunnel."
Shearer maybe on the verge of being offered a position by Steve McClaren with the England set up after revealing at a charity dinner in Newcastle that he has passed his UEFA A licence.
Shearer turned down McClaren's approach last year however he has swept through the coaching qualifications and would even take on a top managerial position of his own.
But the former Newcastle No 9, who retired 13 months ago, is not ready to step into management only yet. That will be a relief for Allardyce as he is looking to establish himself at St James' after his shock departure from Bolton.
Shearer said, "I have only finished my badges so I would go into management now if I would like to, however why should I? There is only one place I am going to go when I do it, so I only would like to enjoy some time out. My wife says, 'We see less of you now than the previous 10 years,' so I am going to take a bit of time to spend with the family, however I will do it one day. If I get to 50 or 55 and I look back and I have not done it, I will regret it, however I do not know when I will do it."
Shearer was signed by Kevin Keegan in 1996 however was unable to add to his solitary Premier League title medal under 6 Newcastle managers.
He turned down the chance to take over from Glenn Roeder in April however has seen enough of the club's recent managers to have a good idea how to succeed in the St James' Park hot-seat.
Allardyce has also been linked with Holland U21 forward Maceo Rigters, who has scored 2 goals in the current European Championship in his home country. Rigters' agent Tom Smit mentioned the NAC Breda player will decide between Newcastle and Celtic after his interest in the competition has ended.
12 06 2007
Newcastle today said Solano signed a one year contract extension, which was agreed some time ago, whilst 19 year old Dutch keeper Tim Krul has committed himself to the club for the next 4 years.
Krul is now likely to be sent out on loan after making his mark with a stunning display in the 1-0 UEFA Cup win over Palermo in Sicily last season before missing much of the rest of the campaign with a knee cartilage injury.
He informed the club's official website, nufc.co.uk, "I signed a a 4 year deal, so I think that is a very good thing for me and for the club. Newcastle is a massive club for me and I really would like to remain there, so I hope my future's there. Shay [Given] is a fantastic goalkeeper, one of the best, and Steve Harper as well. It is a hard challenge for me, however in a few years, I hope I can challenge them. I am allowed to go on loan for next season, so we are looking for a club now. We are waiting for clubs, maybe Championship. We must see."
