Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton hopes to keep transfer-listed Taylor
CHRIS Hughton is determined to keep Steven Taylor at St James' Park despite the defender being placed on the transfer list yesterday. Newcastle progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup last night courtesy of a narrow 3-2 win over Accrington Stanley, but events at the Crown Ground were somewhat superseded by the decision to officially make Taylor available for transfer earlier in the afternoon. The centre-half, who will be out of action for at least another month after dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season friendly at Carlisle United, is due to become a free agent next summer, and Newcastle had been keen to tie him down to a new deal. Magpies officials have held a number of discussions with Taylor and his agent, Paul Stretford, and are understood to have offered a four-year deal worth around £40,000-aweek. The offer was rejected by the Taylor camp, although the defender's representatives last night issued a statement disputing suggestions they had demanded up to £65,000-aweek before they would agree to sign. While Newcastle have not imposed a wage ceiling this summer, Mike Ashley has introduced a number of measures designed to reduce a wage bill that had spiralled out of control by the time the club dropped out of the topflight two seasons ago. The Magpies owner is also insisting that all new contracts include a relegation clause that will reduce the club's outgoings should they fail to retain their Premier League status this season. Taylor, who has previously been linked with Everton and Liverpool, has not made a competitive appearance for the Magpies since mid-January, and was involved in an alleged training-ground incident with Andy Carroll in March that left him nursing a broken jaw. The defender's future is now uncertain, although Hughton will be doing all he can to prevent him leaving his hometown club despite the ongoing complications. It's a situation we hope will be resolved, said the Newcastle boss. I think everybody is aware of what has happened today. That's because of a breakdown in contract talks between the two parties. But Steven Taylor is very much a player that we would like to stay at the club. He's a quality player and I'm very hopeful this can be resolved. Steven wants to stay. I think all parties want this to be resolved. Last night's victory at a raucous Crown Ground came courtesy of goals from Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands, but Newcastle were pushed all the way by their League Two opponents. Hughton selected a number of fringe players for the Magpies' first Carling Cup outing of the season, and while the ploy almost backfired, he felt the end justified the means. It was a tough test, he said. With the ground and the atmosphere that they have here, all the players know they have been in a game. We knew there was an element of risk with the team we picked, there always is when you put such a young side out, but I thought the result and the performance justified the decision. I think it shows there has been progress with the young players. Will I do the same in the next round It depends who we get. Newcastle will learn the identity of their opponents on Saturday, and Hughton is hoping Cheick Tiote will have been confirmed as a Magpies player by then. Having agreed a fee with FC Twente, a Newcastle delegation attended a work permit hearing in London yesterday. We're hoping that will be resolved in the next couple of days, confirmed the Magpies boss.