Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has died. Shepherd, 76, “sadly passed away peacefully at his home last night”, his family have announced in a statement. He joined his father’s best friend, Sir John Hall, in taking control of Newcastle United in 1991 and played an influential role in the club’s rise during the ascent of the Premier League. Shepherd remained at the club until 2007, when he sold his shares to current owner Mike Ashley.
Tyneside-born Shepherd played a pivotal role in persuading Kevin Keegan to take over as manager when the club were in the second tier, before bringing Alan Shearer back to his boyhood club for a then-world record fee in 1996. His family announced his death this afternoon and released this statement: “Freddy Shepherd, former chairman of Newcastle United and chairman of Shepherd Offshore Group and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group, sadly passed away peacefully at his home last night.”
Alan Shearer led the tributes, tweeting: “So sad to hear my great friend and former @NUFC chairman Freddy Shepherd has passed away. I owe him a huge debt for bringing me home.”
Former Newcastle striker Kevin Gallacher added: “Very sad news to hear my former @NUFC chairman Freddy Shepherd has passed away, my thoughts are with his family.”
