Owen: contract talks are stalled

Michael Owen has revealed his talks are going fine; but they have temporarily stalled due to the unsettled state the club appears to be in. Chairman Mike Ashley is desperate to sell the club, and is looking for a new buyer, meanwhile Michael Owen has admitted that many are unsettled.

Owen is one of the many players who is reportedly ready to quit the club due to the unhealthy position the club appears to be in.

"We had a few meetings earlier on in the season and things were going fine," Owen told BBC Sport.

"Then the manager left as did someone on the board who we were negotiating with - talks haven't picked up since."

Owen's current deal ends next summer and he could walk away from the club for free at the end of the season.

"Before it's gets twisted again, that's not me snubbing Newcastle," added the England striker, who scored twice for the Magpies in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Stoke City.

"They've got bigger things to fry than sorting out my contract, or the contracts of Steven Harper, Shola Amoebi, Mark Viduka and Nicky Butt - there are a lot of people out of contract.

"They haven't got round to talking with the players. There has been a lot of turmoil at the club and I suppose they have been shuffled to the back of the queue."