NEWCASTLE'S players have been told their summer holidays will be cut short even if they don't sneak into the InterToto Cup, writes MARTIN HARDY.
Glenn Roeder had set his sights on a pre-season trip to Scandinavia as a warm up to next season's campaign.
And the Toon players, who started this season in June ahead of that InterToto Cup opener, were ready for a lengthy break.
But The SP understands Newcastle's players will instead be flying to South Africa for a preseason campaign.
And that has infuriated several members of the squad.
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd met with Roeder on Friday to map out the club's transfer targets.
But the club's pre-season programme is also being finalised and that will now include a gruelling tour of South Africa.
Club bosses see it as essential to expand the brand name of Newcastle United into areas where they are not yet well known.
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