Newts goes to Irons

Former Charlton midfielder Shaun Newton has joined West Ham on a short-term deal. The 29-year old's contract with Wolves expired at the end of the season. The Irons have paid £10,000 for his services with an extra £115,000 if West Ham win promotion at the end of the season, a sum unlikely to find its way to the Midlands. Ironic to think that Alan Pardew was once touted as a possible successor to Curbs.

Newts was a popular player at Charlton but did not have the necessary quality for the Premiership. He is remembered in particular for his winning goal against Ipswich in the home leg of the play-off final, a rocket of a shot of the type of which he was occasionally capable.

He first appeared for Charlton in the 1992/3 season and made his last appearance in the 0-4 home defeat against Liverpool on 19th May 2001. In all he made 222 appearances for the club in the league and cups, scoring 27 goals, and was almost an ever present in the 1995-6 and 1996-7 seasons. He played in the Wembley play-off, scoring the 7th and hence the winning goal in the penalty shoot out.