Premier League - Newcastle hit back at Owen

Newcastle United have responded angrily to their former striker Michael Owen labelling them a "poor team" on Twitter.

After confirmation that he had been awarded a new one-year contract at Manchester United, Owen tweeted on Wednesday: "Just to answer some of your tweets. Prefer playing less often in a top team than every game in a poor team. Been there a [sic] didn't enjoy it."

With spells at Liverpool and Real Madrid also on his CV, it was evident that Owen was referring to his time at Newcastle between 2005 and 2009 that culminated in the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Magpies chairman Derek Llambias has now responded by claiming that Owen turned down a hugely lucrative deal and that he did not represent good value for money having scored 26 times in 71 Premier League appearances.

“Michael is the most expensive signing Newcastle has ever made and I’m disappointed with his comments," Llambias told the Daily Express.

“Under Kevin Keegan’s management with us he was offered an extension of his contract at £140,000 a week, which he did not take. He was already on £133,000 a week.

“Quite honestly, what did Newcastle United get out of it? His time here cost the club some £40 million at something like £1.3 million per goal.”

Former co-owner Freddy Shepherd, who brought Owen to the club from Real Madrid, was also unhappy to read the striker's comments.

“We might have been a poor team, but we made him a rich man,” Shepherd said. “It’s very disappointing to hear Michael Owen say that about Newcastle. There was nothing poor about what we paid him, more than £90,000 a week.

"Look at what it cost Newcastle. We paid £16 million to Real Madrid for him and his wages over four years cost approximately £20 million. Add on the bolt-ons such as National Insurance and Owen cost £40 million over the four years he was there.

“It works out at around £500,000 for every game in a Newcastle shirt. Poor? Well, he wasn’t poorer for it.”