Michael Owen: 'Newcastle United made contract offer in 2008'

Michael Owen has taken to Twitter once again to clarify comments that he made on the social networking site regarding his stint at Newcastle United.

Following criticism from some supporters over his decision to leave the club for Manchester United in 2009 on a free transfer, 33-year-old Owen insisted that he had not been offered a new contract that would have kept him at St James' Park after their relegation to the Championship.

Today, though, Owen has revealed that he was handed fresh terms by the club in 2008 and issued an apology to the Toon Army for any confusion that his previous comments may have caused.

"Just to clarify. My tweet yesterday referred to no contract offer after Newcastle relegation. Which I said was understandable," he wrote on Twitter.

"Newcastle did make me an offer to extend in 2008 when Joe Kinnear was manager. Apologies to the club if there has been any confusion.

"I just didn't want the fans to think I had deserted the club after relegation. I didn't."

Owen spent four years on Tyneside, scoring 30 goals from his 79 outings.