By Dave
December 1 2004

The Premier League will be in charge (I thought they already were?) and anyone that gets in their way will just have to go part time, reckons Freddy Shepherd. Freddy Shepherd, chairman of Newcastle United, speaking at the Soccerex international football business forum in Dubai:

"I think it is dog-eat-dog. The big fight will be for the Premier League to take over the running of the other leagues," he said.

And when they do take over, well, we just wont be able to hold them back.

"The others can't hold us back, the time will come, I think, when it is the Premier League running the whole show.

"Many of these other clubs will have to go part-time. When we have got 52,000 fans at each home game, the last thing we are worried about is clubs in the third division."

It's nice to know football will be in safe hands when people like him take charge. Shepherd and the other one have reportedly invested over £300m into Newcastle over the last decade. Number of major trophies won in that time? Er, none. Current league position? 10th.

Oh dear.