Craig Bellamy was always a spiky and volatile character during his career, with controversy courting him at almost every club he went to. While he began to mellow like a fine wine during his golden years, it was at the frenetic St. James Park where the chaos was allowed to ensue. There were so many examples of the Welshman overstepping his mark, with boss Graeme Souness ultimately deciding that enough was enough in 2005. Craig Bellamy and Graeme Souness very bitter fall-out was well-documented, with the former coming off as a spoilt brat who showed nothing but contempt for his manager and team-mates. The two were at loggerheads from the word go, with Bellamy reacting angrily to the Scots decision to substitute him during a 1-1 draw at The Valley in October. Two months later, and Bellamy was feigning injury rather than playing on the right-wing for the club - a sign of disrespect that would the infuriate the boss. The Welshman would claim that he hadnt feigned an injury and that his manager was a liar. Bellamy was subsequently fined £80,000 by the club for his outburst, and shipped out on loan to Celtic.
''He cant play for me ever again. He cant go on television and accuse me of telling lies. Craig Bellamy has been a disruptive influence from the minute I walked into this football club with his attitude to the coaching staff, to me and to his team-mates. - Graeme Souness, January 2005.
Souness didnt get many things right at Newcastle, but he was bang on the money about one thing - Bellamy never did pull on the black and white strip again.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
