English Premier LeagueMichael Owen has pledged his future to Newcastle United and dismissed any idea he could move to Manchester City or back to Liverpool. "I believe action speaks louder than words, I'm still here and still loving my time here," said Owen, who denied he had been offered a new contract by Newcastle.

"A month hasn't gone by without somebody saying I'm going here, there and everywhere.

"I feel sorry for the fans rather than myself. It must be frustrating for them reading about this club and that club. I'm still here and looking forward to our next game (against Portsmouth) and continuing the season with Newcastle. I've said numerous times that I'm happy here, but speculation has followed me since I've been here. I say the right things and play in the right way by trying my best, so I don't know where it comes from."

Whether Owen's public declaration of contentment has the desired effect and ends the rumours of his impending departure remains to be seen, but the 27-year-old said: "I don't know where the stories come from. They come leading up to the summer or the transfer window, but this one (City) came earlier than expected. It seems no matter what I do or say, there will be a story linking me with somewhere else."

British sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe sparked a furious row with two of England's biggest clubs when he accused Chelsea of paying "obscene" wages to John Terry and of running an "unsustainable" business. He also said Manchester United were in danger of pricing out rank-and-file supporters.

Sutcliffe's claims, made in his first public forum since becoming minister three months ago, prompted an angry response from the clubs, who accused him of getting his facts wrong.

Chelsea were particularly aggrieved at the minister's comments, and a senior executive contacted Sutcliffe's boss, the culture secretary James Purnell, to demand that the sports minister be forced to retract his remarks.

Sutcliffe told delegates at a sports industry summit that Terry earns £150,000 (€200,000) a week, that Chelsea are "£250 million in the red", and that United had increased ticket prices by 13 per cent. Both clubs disputed his figures.

Chelsea would not confirm Terry's wage, but he is understood to earn closer to €188,000. The club's losses last year were €115 million, while United's average season-ticket rise this season was 10.87 per cent.

A spokesman for the sports minister was later forced to clarify his position: "The minister accepts that his figures may not have been 100 per cent accurate, but he stands by the wider point that he was making."

In a wide-ranging address, Sutcliffe said football was in danger of losing touch with ordinary fans, and cited some of the excesses of wages and ticket-price increases in the Premier League as evidence to support his case.

"The amount of money that players earn is obscene," he said. "Good luck to John Terry, but the ordinary man in the street can't relate to that sort of money. Chelsea are £250 million in the red and they may be able to cope with that, but it's not the real world. £250 million in the red is not sustainable.

"This year Manchester United increased their season tickets by 13 per cent and said fans have automatically to buy European and (League) Cup games as well, and that costs an extra £200. That's taking the game away from the ordinary grass-roots supporter."

Chelsea made a loss of £80 million (€115m) for last year and £140 million (€200m) for the year before, but is committed to breaking even by 2010. Sources close to the minister said he was referring to the combined figure when he talked about the club being "in the red", but that still leaves him €43 million out, and thanks to the largesse of Roman Abramovich Chelsea have no debt.

United's chief executive David Gill was also dismissive of Sutcliffe's argument, maintaining the average season-ticket price rise last season was 10.87 per cent. Gill said: "He's obviously speaking without knowing all the facts. We take a lot of time about these issues and our prices are reasonable at between £25-£45 (€36-€65)."