Newcastle reward Roeder repairs

Newcastle United FC have appointed Glenn Roeder as their manager after a successful temporary spell in charge of the Premiership team.

Rapid rise
A former Newcastle defender, the 50-year-old stepped up from leading the club's youth set-up in February after the sacking of Graeme Souness. At the time the club were in the bottom half of the table but, after taking 32 points from 15 games, they rose to finish seventh in the league and qualify for the 2006/07 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Roeder will combine his work with securing his UEFA Pro Licence, having been unable to complete the coaching qualification when stricken by a brain tumour in April 2003.

Shearer staying

'Looking forward'
"I am very elated to be given this opportunity, especially being an ex-captain of the club," Roeder said. "I know what the expectations are. I am looking forward to the future. In the last three months, we have turned the season around. My aim will be to carry on getting the results we have been getting and being at the right end of the table." The former West Ham United FC manager, who led them to a seventh-placed finish in 2001/02 before relegation at the end of the next campaign, has been given a two-year contract.