Newton vows to justify Hammers' faith
West Ham winger Shaun Newton has vowed to repay the Hammers for standing by him over his drugs shame.
Newton has escaped the sack despite landing a seven-month ban from the Football Association following a positive test for cocaine.
The 30-year-old was tested immediately after West Ham’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Middlesbrough on April 23 and he was subsequently suspended by the club on May 20.
Manager Alan Pardew admitted to being “infuriated” his club’s reputation had been tarnished by the incident – but vowed to stand by Newton.
Newton told the Daily Mirror: “What I want to do now is stay fit. I want to keep training so that I can stay in shape. Hopefully then I can be ready to do well for the club when I come back.”
West Ham had feared a longer suspension but Newton will be available for the Barclays Premiership game against Fulham on December 23 after the FA back-dated his ban to May 20.
Newton offered his apologies, insisting it had been an isolated incident but admitting he had “let down my family, my friends, the club and it’s supporters”.
He is now hoping the Upton Park fans will forgive him, adding: “They know what kind of person I am and what I am like.
“I have been in the game for a long time now and I have never had any kind of blemish against my name. It’s so heartbreaking because I really am a proud person. I have achieved stuff in the game.”
