Freddy Shepherd

Freddy Shepherd is a businessman and chairman of Newcastle United Football Club.

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He is best known for being caught by tabloid journalists mocking the club's own supporters for spending extortionate amounts of money on merchandise, calling female supporters 'dogs', and mocking star striker Alan Shearer, all while frequenting a brothel.

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These acts have caused him to be a rather unpopular figure among the Geordies, who widely refer to him as "Fat Fred", "The Fat One", "Fatty Shepherd" or "The Fat C*#t".

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In a speech at a 2004 Football Association conference Shepherd defended the distribution of profits from the sale of television rights, causing widespread outrage when he stated that that the 'elite clubs' such as Newcastle, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal owed little to the lower leagues.

Related Topics:
2004 - Football Association

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In his 2005 autobiography Sir Bobby Robson provides detailed criticism of Shepherd's chairmanship ,claiming that while manager he was denied information regarding the players' contracts and transfer negotiations. He also criticised Shepherd and Douglas Hall, the club's deputy chairman, for their focus only on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous, although equally important, areas such as the training ground, youth development and talent scouts.

Related Topics:
2005 - Sir Bobby Robson - Douglas Hall - St James' Park - Talent scouts

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Shepherd's brother Bruce is widely believed by many to be the driving force behind the family's business success, which includes oil services company Shepherd Offshore and a scrap metal dealer. Bruce is also an NUFC board member.

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The Shepherds' current 28 percent shareholding is divided between Shepherd Offshore and Freddy Shepherd himself. There have been widespread rumours that the family may try to gain full control of the club by purchasing the holding of Sir John Hall and his family.

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