Frozen to the foot of the Premiership they may be, and anything friendlier than a frosty reception in CSKA Sofia's Army Stadium for tonight's UEFA Cup first-round, first-leg tie would be a warm surprise, but if there is one feature that presently characterises Newcastle United it is the thaw in the previously hostile atmosphere at the club. And nothing illustrates this change better than the smiling face of Robert Lee.
It is 19 days since Ruud Gullit fell on his sword at St James' Park and when the blood was wiped from the blade Lee's name was prominent. Gullit's treatment of the former club captain , the most popular link to the champagne days of Kevin Keegan's reign, was not only tactically questionable, it was politically naive and smacked of pettiness. Even the fans who remained loyal to Gullit empathised with Lee's sense of injustice.
Reinstated by Steve Clarke the morning of Gullit's departure, he again has a manager he likes in Bobby Robson. In fact "all the lads love him," said Lee. "He's a great man, a great character. The atmosphere has changed, the mood is superb." For a club without a victory since early April that is some statement but it is an indication of Lee's alienation under Gullit. Another is that after he was dropped in December he next spoke to Gullit three months later; it was also their last conversation, which means that between March 7th, when Newcastle beat Everton in the FA Cup, and August 28th, when Gullit resigned - a period that included the FA Cup final and Gullit's refusal to give Lee a squad number for this season - the two men said nothing to each other beyond hello and goodbye.
"If he left someone out he didn't explain why," said Lee.
Lee is still bemused by Gullit's thinking but there were disagreements between the two early on. Gullit's perceived bullying of Paul Dalglish was one flashpoint, calling Newcastle "a relegation team" another.
"Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish were great footballers but they knew how to treat people," he said. Just as he was never told directly by Gullit of his other demotions, Lee found out that he had lost his number seven jersey to Kieron Dyer from Newcastle's press officer.
"It annoyed me, though it wasn't about the shirt, it was about not playing. All I wanted was a bit of honesty. I don't hate the bloke but I certainly don't like him. We just never got on".
Getting on is imperative for Newcastle now and Dyer's offer to return Lee's favourite shirt the moment Gullit left was symbolic of the new spirit.
Also returning from the hinterland tonight will be the goalkeeper Steve Harper, Tommy Wright not being registered for Europe. Like Lee, Harper was perplexed by Gullit's attitude and, like Lee, he wants to be back in the heat.
