King Italy
10-12-2001, 01:36 PM
Newcastle midfielder Robert Lee has stunned the club by handing in a transfer request.
The 35-year-old former England international has blamed his decision on the breakdown of contract talks with the St James' Park board.
Lee is midway through a one-year extension to his current deal, which expires in the summer, yet Newcastle will only open negotiations in January.
"Basically because of the contract situation between myself and the club and the differences we've got in opinion, today [Friday] I've requested a transfer from Newcastle," he said.
"Obviously it's not something I wanted to do and it's the most difficult decision I've ever made in my football career, but it's something I need to do and hopefully everybody will understand why I'm doing it."
The 35-year-old former England international has blamed his decision on the breakdown of contract talks with the St James' Park board.
Lee is midway through a one-year extension to his current deal, which expires in the summer, yet Newcastle will only open negotiations in January.
"Basically because of the contract situation between myself and the club and the differences we've got in opinion, today [Friday] I've requested a transfer from Newcastle," he said.
"Obviously it's not something I wanted to do and it's the most difficult decision I've ever made in my football career, but it's something I need to do and hopefully everybody will understand why I'm doing it."