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Martins
gets N16.8m weekly wage
By Richard
Jideaka, Abuja
Friday, July 3, 2009
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•Obafemi
Martins
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The relegation of Newcastle United has made no difference
to Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, as he has gotten a mouth-watering
£65,000 (about N16.8 million) weekly deal after activating
the clause in his contract.
Although Premiership side, Stoke City, have denied any plan
to take the former Inter Milan attacker out of St James Park,
the report that dominated most media in London celebrated
the 10 per cent pay rise, even as they revealed that he escaped
sanction after reporting late to the club’s first training
session.
The report claimed that Martins arrived 20 minutes late, which
would have earned him a hefty fine under manager Alan Shearer
except for the fact there was no Shearer around to administer
the punishment because he remains in limbo while takeover
talks continue.
According to the report: "Relegation has made no difference
to Martins. In fact he is better off, having got himself a
pay rise. Under the terms of the Nigerian striker's contract,
his wages have just gone up nearly 10 per cent from £60,000
to £65,000 a week."
Meanwhile, Stoke City chairman, Peter Coatesm has claimed
that the reports linking Martins with a possible move to the
Britannia stadium are completely unfounded.
"There's nothing in that one. We haven't had contact
or discussions about him at all. I don't know where the story
has come from, but there is no substance to it. I don't bother
about the speculation. It is normal. I think our fans know
we don't go in for publicity stunts," Coates told The
Sentinal.
While describing the situation at the club, a Newcastle source
said: "The place is a joke. Nobody knows what is going
on. There is no obvious sign of a takeover going through,
there is no manager and no direction. In some ways it was
a bit of a shock all those who were supposed to turn up did
so.
"But, again, because they are all on such massive salaries
they would not want to give Newcastle an easy excuse to sack
them. The players are not going to make it easy for the club
if they want to get rid of them. They will expect to be paid
off or they will just sit tight," he added.
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