Newcastle 'not for sale' as cull begins

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Recent speculation has suggested Newcastle are attracting interest among American billionaires but Shepherd, who installed Sam Allardyce on a three-year contract worth £3million a year on Tuesday, has warned a complete takeover will not happen. He has a shareholding of just under 30 per cent and the Hall family control 41 per cent.

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Hands off: Shepherd insists Newcastle will not be sold

Shepherd said: 'It's a plc matter but none of these talks came to anything because I'm not selling. It's an impossible club to buy.'

Allardyce started yesterday by releasing five players. Titus Bramble, Craig Moore, Oguchi Onyewu, Pavel Srnicek and Olivier Bernard will not have their deals renewed.

Celestine Babayaro, Antoine Sibierski, Stephen Carr and Charles N'Zogbia could also be culled.

The new boss is keen to take Tal Ben Haim from former club Bolton. The centre back can move for nothing as his contract has expired.

Aston Villa left back Jlloyd Samuel and Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell are also targets.