Gullit move for Van Hooijdonk faces trouble

Pierre Van Hoojidonk is keen to join Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United but faces two major obstacles.

His reputation in the English league is beyond repair since he went on strike at Nottingham Forest in a dispute over transfer policy. He is training in Holland with his first club NAC Breda and has refused to play for Forest again. The 28 year old behaved in a similar manner to force Glasgow Celtic to sell him in a row over money. There is a financial element to his dispute with Forest as well. Van Hooijdonk played for Holland during the recent World Cup in France but has now left two clubs of his own accord who have won three European Cup wins between them.

Added to this is the pressure from Newcastle's city investors to try to reign in Gullit's initial spending on the side. Kenny Dalglish spent £25 million during his 20 month reign and £15 million of that in the last three months. Whether much new money is around for Gullit to make large bids for a player of such dubious intent as Van Hooijdonk remains to be seen. Newcastle are a quoted companty on the London Stock Exchange and have many shareholders who are concerned that a new spending spree will test the resources of a club who also want to spend to redevelope their ground. A £6.5 million deal to take Van Hooijdonk to Turkish side Fenerbahce ended last night when the Turks pulled out. and Tore Andre Flo is a more likely target for Gullit's first big investment. But he may have to sell players first to please the real powers at Newcastle.