Mirror Football

Shearer: I dream of Newcastle return

24th October 2009

Alan Shearer says it pains him to see the way his beloved Newcastle United are being run – but he still dreams of returning as manager one day.

Shearer has been tipped to be reappointed at St James’ Park if businessman and personal friend Barry Moat ever completes a takeover.

But yet another deadline came and went last week after owner Mike Ashley cut the price of the club from £100million to £80m and challenged Moat to cough up.

Now caretaker-boss Chris Hughton looks certain to sign a contract as permanent manager this week, the biggest indication yet that Ashley intends to stay – and that means Shearer will have to wait. All that after a week when Newcastle’s name was dragged through the mud yet again after Ashley had to pay former manager Kevin Keegan £1.5m in compensation for his constructive dismissal.

Shearer said: “People keep asking me what’s going on, but I certainly don’t know – and I don’t think anyone outside the club does. I haven’t got a clue – honestly, I haven’t – and it’s so frustrating.

“I’m like all Newcastle fans, I would like it sorted. But there’s only one man who can do that.

“Unfortunately I’m not sure that anyone knows the ins and outs of it, whether the club is going to be sold or whether he’s going to keep hold of it.

“People have said bids have gone in, but no one really knows the truth. I don’t read about it any more. I’ve seen enough deadlines come and pass so I don’t read any of it.

“It’s still a very difficult and precarious situation at Newcastle and it pains me to see that.”

Shearer, who bossed the club for eight games last season in a bid to save them from relegation, has kept his eye in by doing coaching badges and working for World Cup sponsors Castrol, who analyse player performance for their Castrol Index.

And, of course, he has also watched Newcastle as a fan.

He said: “They are talking about giving Chris Hughton the job permanently and with the way things are I’d probably back that because it’s difficult circumstances. You read Mike Ashley say he and not the manager will control players coming in and out.

“So effectively, Chris is a coach, and not a manager, even if he takes the job. It’s not ideal.”

Despite all the problems, however, Shearer insists he would answer a call to return to management at the Toon under a new owner.

“I would still like to be the manager of Newcastle again one day,” he stressed.

“If the situation came around and everything was right and in place then without a doubt I would love to give it another go. But that’s not up to me.

“It’s not just a job at Newcastle, though, because if the right post came along somewhere else I would definitely look at it too.

“But obviously I went in at Newcastle and I really, really enjoyed it. I hoped I was going to be in there for the long term.

“I would love to go back, but let’s make this clear: I’m not connected to any bids. And nobody has said to me, ‘If I get in and I buy the football club I want you to be the manager’.

“It’s true I am a friend of Barry Moat, but at this moment and for the last however many months or years he’s not reached an agreement.

“So what’s the point in talking about it? That’s the way I see it.”