Another black sheep for Bobby's family

Well, it seems as though the signing of Bad Boy Bowyer is now imminent - and I have to make some sense of my own opinions on the subject.

In footballing terms he's a fine acquisition, particularly on a free transfer - for a midfielder he's scored a lot of goals in his career, and, after all, Liverpool were prepared to pay £9million for him only last summer. It has to be added, though, that he's just had a very poor season, and did precisely nothing to help keep his beloved Hammers in the Premiership - partly due to a troublesome ankle injury which also raises question marks about the wisdom of the deal.

Sir Bobby has shown patience with young players who have got themselves in trouble off the pitch (and we've got quite a few of them at Newcastle: take a bow, Messrs Bellamy and Dyer - or more likely, a swing...) and a willingness to bring in others with tarnished reputations whether on the park or off it (Robert, Woodgate...). Nevertheless, this signing makes the club seem even more like an Institute for Young Offenders, and open to attack by the media. I'm not the only Newcastle supporter for whom Bowyer's arrival will leave a very unsavoury taste in the mouth - he's unrepentant, thuggish and not the steadying presence we need at the club if we're to continue our development into a side that can mount and sustain a serious title challenge.

And of course there's also the untold damage the signing could well do in terms of race relations. Will Asian fans feel comfortable cheering him on from the stands? I think not.

Read a more measured and considered response to the signing here.