Shepherd pledges summer spending

Shepherd realises the Newcastle squad needs strengthening

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has promised there will be major team strengthening at the club this summer.

The Magpies are 11th in the Premiership and are out of the remaining cup competitions but will spend £300m on a major redevelopment of St James' Park.

Shepherd told the club website: "We know that the team needs looking at in more ways than one and that is what we are concentrating on.

"The squad will be strengthened in the close season."

He added: "Really has there ever been a summer when there have not been comings and goings at St James' Park?"

The redevelopment of St James' Park will lead to the capacity being increased to 60,000 and will include a major conference centre, hotels and luxury apartments.

The project will be funded completely independently of the football club's revenues.