We wrote yesterday that Michael Owen’s autobiography would be left on the shelves in many stores on Tyneside, but it appears that will not necessarily be the case, as one store at least, will not even stock it in the first place.
Regional sports memorabilia store The Back Page have announced that for the first time in their almost 16 year history, they are refusing to sell Owen’s book.
Excerpts from it have been published across various media outlets nationwide, and much of the controversial clips involve Newcastle, its fans and former players, most notably, Alan Shearer.
His comments caused a public argument on social media between Owen and Shearer, and added fuel to the fire of their feud that has been bubbling for the past decade.
If the idea of releasing these clips was to publicise his book, then you have to give credit to his public relations team, because Tuesday saw it in the headlines of sports websites and it dominated the football agenda on Twitter.
We are deliberately not going to mention the comments, and give them any further publicity on our website, and it seems we are not the only ones to think that way.
The Back Page should be applauded by Newcastle fans
For a company that prides itself on selling football items and books – both present day and historic – it is a big statement from the Back Page.
It should be applauded by not just Newcastle fans, but football fans everywhere, as his comments appear bitter and over the top, and on the face of it, designed to cause outrage on Tyneside.
Of all the other things that have happened in his life, he chooses to use Newcastle United and our magnificent fan-base to increase the books exposure, which totally contradicts his opinion of both those things from the excerpts.
He is seen as a mercenary by Toon fans, who always thought his attitude while at the club suggested he was only here for the salary.
His explosive, derogatory comments have only added to that belief.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
