Newcastle’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ fines board revealed as strict Eddie Howe lays down the law in training
NEWCASTLE’S new state-of-the-art training ground includes a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ fines board.
Magpies legend Shola Ameobi gave fans a look around their upgraded facility on Tuesday in a hilarious Cribs-style tour.
Toon’s Saudi owners hope to build a new base but have ploughed millions into their Benton HQ – previously described by co-owner Amanda Staveley as “really awful” – as they prepare for Champions League football.
A swanky new cafeteria, games area and cinema all caught the eye, along with the hydrotherapy pool and foot-tennis table.
But supporters were left in hysterics when Ameobi showed off the “unique” giant wheel – without explaining what it was.
It is a board used by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe to hand out fines and forfeits to his squad.
A stickler for punctuality, Howe only punishes those who are late, whether it’s for training, meetings or the team coach.
Chelsea players during Frank Lampard’s first spell had to cough up £20,000 for not being at training on time, on top of a number of other strict rules imposed.
But star striker Callum Wilson said: “We only do lates.
“We have a wheel and you spin it, and on the wheel there are the figures that you have to pay.
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“The maximum is three figures and it’s kept quite low-key.”
French winger Saint-Maximin has regularly fallen foul of Howe and his predecessor Steve Bruce since signing from Nice in 2019.
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey – who left for Nottingham Forest in January – revealed the 26-year-old “gets fined every day because he’s got earrings in”.
He added: “If he weren’t that good, you’d probably have the hump with him but when he’s that good, you don’t really want to have a go at him”.
And Howe had to reprimand Saint Maximin last July for constantly parking his Ferrari directly outside the training ground entrance in bays where there were clear ‘no parking’ signs.