Shepherd's not fit to pay tribute to Sir Bobby Robson

Of all the genuinely heartfelt tributes paid to Sir Bobby Robson over the weekend, one really sticks in the throat. That of former Newcastle Chairman Freddy Shepherd.

"I worked every day with him for five years and that's when you see the character of a man," Shepherd said. "He was certainly the best manager I worked with."

Which is why he decided to undermine his manager by revealing he wouldn't be renewing his contract 30 days before sacking him, just three games into the season - arguably kickstarting a disastrous chain of events that led to the club being relegated last season. 

It doesn't necessarily take five years of day-to-day contact to work out the character of a man, Freddy. Some people's character is much easier to work out.