Robert fined for slamming Souness

We finished last season so badly that, towards the end, I just laughed at him Laurent Robert

Newcastle have fined Laurent Robert two weeks' wages for his stinging attack on manager Graeme Souness - even though he has agreed a move to Portsmouth.

The French winger, 30, told The Sun that the Magpies would have lifted the 2005 Uefa Cup "if Souness had the intelligence to see what was going on".

"If he keeps going like he has, he'll get fired and deserve it," he added.

But Newcastle are still paying his wages until Friday and have disciplined him "for a breach of club discipline".

Robert also criticised Souness on the eve of the Uefa Cup quarter-final second-leg defeat against Sporting Lisbon.

He was dropped for that game and was in and out of the team for the remaining Premiership games.

I can see only a lot more pain for the players, the fans and the chairman while he remains manager Laurent Robert

"He put kids in the team and left me on the bench to annoy me. He's just a child," Robert added.

"He made a personal matter out of our disagreement and, by punishing me, he punished the whole team.

"I'm sure Alan Shearer told Souness he had to play me - but nothing happened.

"He will get nowhere screaming at players and slamming doors."

Robert also revealed that he was not alone in his dissatisfaction, while in the Newcastle dressing room.

"Other members of the team aren't happy with him, though they don't have the courage to speak out. But I've never been afraid of anyone," he said.

"We finished last season so badly that, towards the end, I just laughed at him.

"And I can see only a lot more pain for the players, the fans and the chairman while he remains manager."

Souness reacted on Tuesday by saying only: "I would like to wish Laurent Robert all the best at Portsmouth."