Řepka had serious disciplinary problems amassing ten yellow cards and one red card in thirty-two league appearances. Don Hutchison turned out to be very injury-prone on his second spell with the club, playing only ten league games that season. West Ham were bottom at Christmas and at that time no team had ever avoided relegation from that position. Despite the January signings of Rufus Brevett, Lee Bowyer on a short-term deal, and Les Ferdinand, Roeder was unable to halt the team's slump. Roeder had a dispute with striker Paolo Di Canio after he substituted Di Canio in a match against West Bromwich Albion. In April 2003, Roeder suffered a brain tumour and was replaced by Trevor Brooking for the final three games of the season. Despite a late rally, West Ham were relegated with a record number of 42 points. Roeder returned to work in July 2003, stating he had "unfinished business". In the 2003 close season, many of West Ham's star players, such as Trevor Sinclair, Frédéric Kanouté and Joe Cole left the club as a result of relegation. Cole refused the offer of a new contract and moved to Chelsea. Roeder was sacked by West Ham in August 2003, following a defeat to Rotherham United. He had managed only three league games of the new season with West Ham now playing in the second tier. The season started with a 2–1 away win against Preston North End. However after a home goalless draw against Sheffield United on 16 August 2003, the team were jeered from the pitch. He was again replaced by Trevor Brooking as manager. Newcastle United After nearly two years out of the game, he returned to football in June 2005 when he was named youth-development manager of Newcastle United. After Graeme Souness was sacked as Newcastle manager in February 2006, Roeder was appointed caretaker manager, with striker Alan Shearer, then still also a player, as his assistant. He was able to turn the Magpies' season around, rescuing them from near the foot of the table to finish seventh in the Premier League with a place in the Intertoto Cup. Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle United's chairman, consequently named Roeder as first in line to become full-time manager at the club, on condition that Newcastle obtain dispensation from the FA Premier League to allow Roeder to continue without the mandatory UEFA Pro Licence. Newcastle claimed exceptional circumstances as