Post by andrewmgan1976 on Apr 1, 2009 8:54:57 GMT 1
Alan Shearer is set to be appointed as Newcastle manager until the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
The former Magpies striker, 38, has often been linked with a return to St James' Park but in the past has been critical of its management structure.
Shearer would be owner Mike Ashley's fourth managerial appointment this season as the club fights relegation.
Kevin Keegan was replaced by Joe Kinnear, who then had heart surgery, with Chris Hughton taking over as boss.
The fans will be out celebrating as soon as they hear the news. Alan is so high on the pedestal at Newcastle
Kevin Gallacher
But with Hughton in temporary charge, Newcastle have slipped into the relegation zone and are third from bottom of the Premier League.
Kevin Gallacher, a team-mate from Shearer's playing days at Blackburn Rovers, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a surprise appointment - it's thrown me a googly to say the least.
"Obviously with Joe being out unwell something had to happen. You're just hoping that with all the hype that's going to follow the team is going to pick it up. Not all great players make great managers but Alan has a great football brain.
"Players always need a leader and now Alan's there he'll command the respect of the players. He has eight games to pick them up, starting with Chelsea, and that's a tough order. The fans will be out celebrating as soon as they hear the news. Alan is so high on the pedestal at Newcastle."
Archive: Alan Shearer - Euro 96
BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson told Breakfast he was also "hugely surprised".
He added: "If anyone can lift Newcastle out of the doldrums it's Alan. He's got no experience [of management] but people like [German internationals] Jurgen Klinsmann and Franz Beckenbauer came in with no experience as well. He is regarded as a god up there in Newcastle."
Shearer scored 206 goals in 404 appearances during a 10-year playing stint at Newcastle to earn legendary status on Tyneside after joining for a record £15m fee from Blackburn.
The former England striker, who retired from playing in 2006, has made no secret of his desire to become a manager one day.
However, he was thought to have strong reservations about Ashley's regime - describing it as "strange" following Keegan's shock exit.
The same month, Shearer, a pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day, rejected an offer to join the club's coaching staff.
606: DEBATE
I think this is great and he will keep you up!
Vlla-Matty-91
Both on and off the pitch, Newcastle have lurched from one crisis to the next this season following the departure of Keegan early in the campaign.
Following a fans' backlash over Keegan's exit, Ashley raised the possibility of selling the club, before deciding to stay on.
Key striker Michael Owen has been involved in just four games this year because of an ankle injury, while Charles N'Zogbia moved to Wigan in the January transfer window after a high-profile bust-up with Kinnear.
Newcastle, who have 29 points from 30 matches, host third-placed Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday with eight games of the season left.
Frank Gilmore, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, said the appointment of Shearer was certain to create a buzz.
"You can guarantee people will be starting to queue at the ground now to buy any remaining tickets for the game against Chelsea," he said. "The atmosphere at that game on Saturday will be unbelievable."
Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall said: "I've always felt [Shearer] was the only man at this moment in time who could manage Newcastle. He's a bit like Keegan, when we took him back 20 years ago. Keegan always had the magic touch and I think Alan's the same."
John Anderson, a former Magpies defender, welcomed the moved but warned: "It's going to be a big, big ask - they've got a very tough run-in."
The former Magpies striker, 38, has often been linked with a return to St James' Park but in the past has been critical of its management structure.
Shearer would be owner Mike Ashley's fourth managerial appointment this season as the club fights relegation.
Kevin Keegan was replaced by Joe Kinnear, who then had heart surgery, with Chris Hughton taking over as boss.
The fans will be out celebrating as soon as they hear the news. Alan is so high on the pedestal at Newcastle
Kevin Gallacher
But with Hughton in temporary charge, Newcastle have slipped into the relegation zone and are third from bottom of the Premier League.
Kevin Gallacher, a team-mate from Shearer's playing days at Blackburn Rovers, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a surprise appointment - it's thrown me a googly to say the least.
"Obviously with Joe being out unwell something had to happen. You're just hoping that with all the hype that's going to follow the team is going to pick it up. Not all great players make great managers but Alan has a great football brain.
"Players always need a leader and now Alan's there he'll command the respect of the players. He has eight games to pick them up, starting with Chelsea, and that's a tough order. The fans will be out celebrating as soon as they hear the news. Alan is so high on the pedestal at Newcastle."
Archive: Alan Shearer - Euro 96
BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson told Breakfast he was also "hugely surprised".
He added: "If anyone can lift Newcastle out of the doldrums it's Alan. He's got no experience [of management] but people like [German internationals] Jurgen Klinsmann and Franz Beckenbauer came in with no experience as well. He is regarded as a god up there in Newcastle."
Shearer scored 206 goals in 404 appearances during a 10-year playing stint at Newcastle to earn legendary status on Tyneside after joining for a record £15m fee from Blackburn.
The former England striker, who retired from playing in 2006, has made no secret of his desire to become a manager one day.
However, he was thought to have strong reservations about Ashley's regime - describing it as "strange" following Keegan's shock exit.
The same month, Shearer, a pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day, rejected an offer to join the club's coaching staff.
606: DEBATE
I think this is great and he will keep you up!
Vlla-Matty-91
Both on and off the pitch, Newcastle have lurched from one crisis to the next this season following the departure of Keegan early in the campaign.
Following a fans' backlash over Keegan's exit, Ashley raised the possibility of selling the club, before deciding to stay on.
Key striker Michael Owen has been involved in just four games this year because of an ankle injury, while Charles N'Zogbia moved to Wigan in the January transfer window after a high-profile bust-up with Kinnear.
Newcastle, who have 29 points from 30 matches, host third-placed Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday with eight games of the season left.
Frank Gilmore, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, said the appointment of Shearer was certain to create a buzz.
"You can guarantee people will be starting to queue at the ground now to buy any remaining tickets for the game against Chelsea," he said. "The atmosphere at that game on Saturday will be unbelievable."
Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall said: "I've always felt [Shearer] was the only man at this moment in time who could manage Newcastle. He's a bit like Keegan, when we took him back 20 years ago. Keegan always had the magic touch and I think Alan's the same."
John Anderson, a former Magpies defender, welcomed the moved but warned: "It's going to be a big, big ask - they've got a very tough run-in."