Newcastle have fined their Welsh striker Craig Bellamy two weeks’ wages following his bust-up with manager Graeme Souness.

But, despite reports that the club were looking to offload the Welsh striker, Bellamy has not been placed on the transfer list. Nonetheless, the spat is estimated to have cost the player £80,000 in lost earnings.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “It is not about money. It is about a player thinking he is bigger than this club.

“No individual is, be it the chairman, the manager or a player.”

Souness dropped Bellamy for Sunday’s game against Arsenal, claiming the striker had feigned injury in training after being asked to play out of position.

“When I heard what the manager was saying I was in shock,” Bellamy said. “I thought ‘not only has he gone behind my back, he’s lying’,” the 25-year-old said in response to Souness’ remarks.

The hostility between manager and player escalated over the weekend, with both men using the press to offer their own version of events.

Eventually Shephered intervened, backing Souness over his errrant player.

“I wish to put the record straight regarding the Bellamy situation,” said Shepherd.

“Craig walked off the training ground saying his hamstring was tight (on Friday), but what he failed to reveal was that he had told other members of the squad before training that he intended to feign injury.

“When Graeme discovered this he immediately ordered Bellamy to attend a meeting in my office.

“At that meeting Bellamy admitted to Graeme and I that he had told the players that he was going to “fake” an injury in training and walk off.

“He also agreed at that meeting to apologise to his team mates for his behaviour. He didn’t do this which resulted in the action taken by the manager at the weekend, which I fully support.

“In my book this is cheating on the club, the supporters, the manager and his own team-mates.

“He is paid extremely well and I consider his behaviour to be totally unacceptable and totally unprofessional.”