Shola: Players can lighten the mood

Aug 12 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SHOLA Ameobi has promised Newcastle United's players will continue to ignore the ongoing takeover farce as they look to do something to relieve the depression on Tyneside.

United began their attempt to make an immediate return to the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

Despite their failure to start the Championship campaign with a win, the manner in which they secured a point was finally some cause for encouragement after such a depressing summer.

And Ameobi (pictured right) believes Newcastle’s players have become immune to the controversy surrounding owner Mike Ashley and his apparently flawed attempt to sell the club.

“The players that have been left behind have character and we are determined to make the best out of a bad situation,”said Ameobi, who has formed a new-look strike force with Andy Carroll following the departures of Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka.

“We are going to need plenty of that this season, we have to keep that up. We’ve got to be strong and concentrate on what we can do to improve things at this football club.

“Everyone wants to see how we are going to react to relegation. But as players we know we have to stand up for ourselves and show what we are about on the pitch.

“It doesn’t matter what else is going on, the only place we can do anything to show people that we’re not feeling sorry for ourselves is on a match day.

“It’s been good to see how the lads have pulled together in the dressing room in the circumstances. The players can’t affect anything to do with the takeover.

Whatever goes on outside, it will happen. Things will get sorted eventually, we just have to focus on what we have to do and that’s win games. It’s been a good start, not a great start, but there is something to build on and that is the pleasing thing.”