Toon join Europe's top table
NEWCASTLE United will take their place among the elite tomorrow when they join the European Club Association (ECA).
The new organisaion has been formed following the break-up of the G14.
And under Uefa's ranking system, England - along with Italy and Spain - are entitled to have five clubs on the board.
Newcastle have been given that fifth spot, to join the 'big four' of Manchster United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Scotland has also been granted an extra place, with Hearts joining Celtic and Rangers at the table.
A total of 103 clubs are included - all of Uefa's 53 associations have a minimum of one representative.
The new body has been formed with the approval of Uefa.
Uefa had feared the G14 would break away if it did not get its own way in matters such as the format of the Champions' League and payments to clubs for their international players.
As a result, the ECA has already won important concessions.
International matches will eventually be switched to Tuesday, allowing players to return to their clubs earlier.
And players based in Europe will not have to take part in more than one friendly for their country played in other continents.
Influence has also been brought on the African Cup of Nations Cup.
From 2010 the January competitionit will start two weeks earlier, helping European clubs who have a mid-winter break.
The other breakthrough was in forcing Uefa to pay all clubs whose players appear in a European Championship or World Cup.
The rate of approximately €4,000 (3,165) per player per day amounts to a total of 34,425,000 which Uefa will hand over from Euro 2008.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, of Bayern Munich, who is expected to be confirmed as the ECA's chairman, says the organisation does not support Fifa's "six plus five" proposal under which teams can field a maximum of five foreigners but they are backing Uefa's version in which clubs must include eight "home-grown" players in their squad for European competitions next season.
That includes players, like Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who have been at a club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
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Weather for Blyth
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
