CHELSEA will provide Newcastle United with enough distractions tomorrow, but Freddy Shepherd and Graeme Souness would not be human if their gaze did not stray occasionally from the pitch. As well as a testing match against a team described by Celestine Babayaro as “the untouchables”, St James’ Park also hosts an unpopularity contest, with the chairman and his manager competing unwillingly for star billing.

For the first time in recent memory, Newcastle supporters turned on their directors during the team’s Uefa Cup fixture against Heerenveen and although Thursday night’s protest was quelled by a 2-1 victory, the symbolism was weighty.

Much to their frustration, Newcastle are not defined by their trophies. It is 36 years since they last cherished a significant piece of silverware — the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 — and 50 since they won their last domestic honour. Meaningful concepts for fans include history, loyalty, passion and a yearning for expansive play; some are being taken for granted, some ignored and others betrayed.

Bonds have been stretched and the most intriguing aspect to the aggrieved chanting in the Netherlands — some 700 supporters travelled from Tyneside — was that Shepherd, himself a Geordie, should be singled out for abuse. On the face of it, that would seem to suggest respite for Souness, who has not been a fêted successor to Sir Bobby Robson, except that his employer is known to value local opinion highly.

Shepherd would not shy away from action if it were to bring him greater favour and, although he maintained a bullish public stance yesterday, he was said to be distraught that his own public had turned against him. “I’ve got broad shoulders,” he said. “I can take the flak. Everything I’ve ever done has been in the best interests of Newcastle United and that won’t change.”

Shepherd decided last summer to retain Robson’s services for another year, but his announcement that a one-year contract would not be renewed undermined the manager, who left after four matches. The departure of Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid was sanctioned shortly before the transfer window closed, while an approach for Wayne Rooney prompted bafflement.

Alan Shearer, Steve Bruce, Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce all rejected the opportunity to succeed Robson — who had been uneasy with Shepherd’s role in the buying and selling of new players — and the arrival of Souness was greeted with antipathy. He fell out promptly with Laurent Robert and Craig Bellamy, while Newcastle’s football has often been pedestrian.

In the circumstances, the result against Heerenveen was essential and so, too, is their FA Cup fifth-round tie against Chelsea. With José Mourinho promising to select a shadow side, Newcastle’s chances improve, which makes the prospect of defeat more terrifying. Robert has become a cause célèbre for the crowd and Souness will be a brave man to restrict him again to the substitutes’ bench. “I’m not the first Newcastle manager to ask Laurent to be aware of his defensive duties,” the Scotsman said.

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