NEWCASTLE United have issued a statement in response to an article which appeared in the matchday programme for the game with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Monday.

The article, which was written by an outside contributor, was worded in a way that made a distasteful remark about Alan Shearer.

The club are unhappy with the article, and chairman Freddy Shepherd issued the following statement: "We are very disappointed at this appearing in the Sunderland programme.

"The message is in extremely bad taste, made at a time when football fans all over the world are hailing Alan's fantastic career achievements."