Derek Llambias reveals NUFC income has been halved

Nov 5 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“In the Championship itself you get £2.4m income. You get a drop in your season tickets, attendance and retail – it all drops.

“That shortfall needs to be made up. Mike is picking the shortfall now and it’s very, very difficult, but we’re getting through it.

“We purposefully kept a nucleus of the team we felt could take us up. It’s working and we’ll add to that.”

A degree of vindication came with the news that Nolan has again claimed the PFA Fans’ Championship Award.

Having failed to find the net in his first six months at the club, Nolan is this season’s top scorer with eight goals.

Alan Smith was fourth in the fans’ poll, one behind Peter Whittingham, the Cardiff City midfielder linked to St James’ and who scored seven goals in four October games.

La Liga clubs Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Real Zaragoza are reportedly considering testing Llambias’ determination to keep hold of key figures with January bids for Argentina winger Jonás Gutiérrez.

The 26-year-old’s agent, Pedro Jimenez-Bravo, was quoted as saying Gutiérrez would be allowed to leave if a “good offer” came in during the transfer window.

Gutiérrez made his name in Spain, making 96 appearances for Real Mallorca before joining Newcastle in 2008.

Meanwhile, Hughton is confident of having central defender Steven Taylor back for this weekend’s visit of Peterborough United.

“Steven could have probably, at a push, played against Sheffield United,” Hughton told the club’s official website.

“We chose not to risk him and that decision paid off. But he will be fine for the weekend and we look forward to welcoming him back.”