Newcastle directors Freddy Shepherd and Douglas Hall are battling to stay in power at St James' Park following sleaze allegations. Hall's solicitor, Gerrard Tyrrell, of Harbottle and Lewis, issued a statement yesterday morning defending their client, but later club chairman Shepherd appeared to be distancing himself from the announcement.

Although it is too early to be certain, it appears there might be a rift forming between the two as they fight off calls to resign. Shepherd's public relations representatives, Glasgow-based Media House said: "Neither Freddy Shepherd's lawyer, nor his public relations firm has issued any statement."

That heralds an amazing turnaround in 24 hours. Many believed on Thursday that the directors were on their way out, but the statement by Hall's solicitors yesterday morning confirmed in the strongest possible terms that they were staying.

The Newcastle Chronicle reported Mr Tyrrell saying: "The two men are not going to resign. The situation would be different if they had said these things without any prompting. It was a total set up."