Newcastle Claim Victory Over £10m Owen Pay-out

Newcastle United claimed a £10m win over the Football Association last night after the long-running stand-off about compensation for Michael Owen's injury at the World Cup last summer. A club spokesman said last night: "We've finally reached a compromise with Fifa and the FA regarding Michael Owen. We're happy and it has been well worth [the United chairman] Freddy Shepherd's fight."

Owen suffered cruciate ligament damage at the finals in Germany, sidelining the England striker for all but three Newcastle games last season. The club's loss of their £17m striker forced them to recruit Obafemi Martins from Internazionale - a £10m signing for which United sought compensation from Fifa and the FA.

Fifa and the FA had been paying £50,000 of Owen's £110,000 weekly wages since he suffered the injury, totaling about £2m for the time he was out of action. As well as the compensation for signing Martins as cover for him, Newcastle had also demanded that Fifa pay his medical bills.

The club said last night that the dispute had ended with the settlement. Fifa indicated that the settlement was between £6m and £7m but the Newcastle spokesman said: "Taking into account that [Owen's] wages have now been paid in full and the compensation we have received, it will amount to around £10m."

Shepherd, meanwhile, was last night weighing up the new owner Mike Ashley's invitation to stay at the club after the rest of the current hierarchy leave. Official confirmation of those departures was expected last night but a statement will now be made to the stock exchange this morning.

Shepherd was at St James' Park yesterday, as were Ashley's representatives. It is not known what was said with regard to Shepherd, who has financial and health-related issues to consider. Today could effectively be his last as chairman. Should he choose to remain - he has been offered a salaried position - he will work with Ashley appointments.

No names have emerged of possible members of the next board and an Ashley spokesman in the City said there was no significance in the resignation of Justin Barnes from St James Holdings Limited, the vehicle Ashley formed to buy Newcastle. Barnes, close to Ashley, was one of two names on the SJHL document lodged at Companies House on May 21.

What effect boardroom developments will have on the club's new manager, Sam Allardyce, remains to be seen. Newcastle are expected, however, to unveil David Rozehnal, from Paris Saint-Germain, as their latest signing today. The 26-year-old Czech defender will cost about £3m. He passed a medical on Tyneside yesterday afternoon.