Source: SKY_Sports
Hughton quiet on Bassong
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Newcastle interim manager Chris Hughton claims he knows nothing about Tottenham reportedly having lodged a bid for Sebastien Bassong.[LNB] It was widely speculated prior to Sunday's 1-1 with Dundee United in a pre-season friendly that Newcastle had rejected a £10million offer from their Premier League counterparts.[LNB]The French defender did not feature in the friendly, amid suggestions a move to White Hart Lane is edging closer.[LNB]Hughton, though, insists he has had no contact with Tottenham with regards a possible sale.[LNB]Speculation"The first I heard about it was when I saw it on television this morning," he said.[LNB]"I haven't spoken to anybody since then. It's just speculation as far as I'm concerned.[LNB]"At this moment, they are all Newcastle players.[LNB]"What happens in the future I don't know, but at this moment they are all Newcastle players.[LNB]"It was never my intention for me to play Bassong, he is suspended for the first game of the season.[LNB]"So we were always going to leave him out anyway."[LNB]Hughton, however, admitted that he was not made aware of the transfer of Obafemi Martins, who signed a four-year contract with Wolfsburg on Friday.[LNB]He said: "I was made aware when it was a definite deal. At this moment there are no other transfers.[LNB]"I don't have a remit to bring any players in, it's something I haven't spoken about.[LNB]"Apart from those who left last season, we have the full complement of players minus Obafemi Martins.[LNB]"When and if it needs to be addressed it will be at the appropriate time.[LNB]"It's not been difficult to plan, all you can do is work with the players that you have got."[LNB]Hughton claimed the hard-fought game at Tannadice would have been enjoyed by Sir Bobby Robson who died from cancer on Friday.[LNB]Robson tributeBefore kick-off there was a minute's applause as a tribute to the former England and Newcastle manager and the couple of thousand Geordie fans who travelled north chanted his name intermittently throughout the afternoon.[LNB]Hughton said: "Everybody at the club knew what Sir Bobby meant to the club.[LNB]"I had the opportunity to meet him on numerous occasions and it has been an emotional week.[LNB]"But I think he would have enjoyed the game today and the passion that was shown."[LNB]
