Owen still costing Magpies £50,000 per week

Jul 12 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

That means that as well as having paid him in full for the first few days of the month, Newcastle have to stump up £55,000 a week to Owen until the end of the month.

While he remains without a club, Viduka stands to pick up around £320,000 before tax from United this month under the terms of his old £80,000-a-week contract.

And the edge has been taken off Cacapa’s search for new employers by the £40,000 he is owed by Newcastle every week until July 31. Newcastle have been powerless to prevent a scenario which will infuriate fans already sickened by events – or lack of them – at St James’s.

For the obligation to pay players for a month after they fall out of contract – and the difference between their old and new salaries – is part of regulations set out by Premier League, the Football League and the PFA.