The Guardian

Players to leave if Shearer isn't made manager

9th July 2009

Disaffected Newcastle United players are threatening to demand transfers if the owner, Mike Ashley, does not sell the club or appoint Alan Shearer as manager within the next fortnight.

Senior members of the squad are deeply unhappy at being left managerless and in limbo this summer. Amid a growing mood of militancy, they have given Ashley an ultimatum to install Shearer while he waits for a buyer or drop his £100m asking price and sell Newcastle quickly.

It is understood that the defenders Steven Taylor and Habib Beye are leading the calls for Shearer, who was in charge on a temporary basis for the final eight games of last season, to be made manager. If the former England captain does not shortly take charge it is thought they will be joined by Sébastien Bassong, Nicky Butt and Alan Smith in handing in transfer requests.

Considering Shearer has told Ashley that the first four of that quintet are essential if Newcastle are to return to the Premier League, that would represent a major blow. Such a revolt would also be a significant gesture by the players who would lose lucrative loyalty bonuses.

Leading players have begun clamouring for action as Newcastle's squad prepare for the new season at a "boot camp" just outside Dublin, where they are being trained by the caretaker coach Chris Hughton. Ashley has been reluctant to hire a manager in case the new owners have a preferred candidate. Three consortia are considering buying Newcastle but none appears in any great hurry to finalise a sale.

Bassong may issue his transfer demand as early as Monday. The centre-half proved a rare success last season and is coveted by several clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa. He has one year left on his contract and, well aware Bassong earns just £5,000 a week, Shearer had urged Ashley to award him a new deal.

Beye is admired by Premier League teams including Everton – who are also eyeing Smith – while Taylor is the subject of interest from Fenerbahce. Newcastle are desperate to offload 10 other high-earning players including Obafemi Martins, Fabricio Coloccini and Joey Barton.

Seymour Pierce, the investment bank brokering Newcastle's sale, is hopeful a deal may be concluded by the end of the week. The club is attracting interest with an Austrian consortium understood to be the latest investment group to have been shown around St James' Park, when a Malaysian consortium also made a return visit.

In the interim Newcastle are preparing for their first pre-season friendly at Shamrock Rovers on Saturday by following an arduous fitness programme devised by Shearer and featuring thrice daily training sessions - the first at 7am - followed by frequent ice baths.