Alan Shearer says love for Newcastle prompted him to accept SOS call

02 April 2009 15:01
Speaking for the first time as Newcastle's new manager, Shearer insisted Newcastle have enough quality to beat the drop. [LNB]Asked why he has chosen this point to step into the role, Shearer said: 'I love this football club. I realise they're in a bad position but I believe I can do something about it. I do realise there is quality there but they are not playing with confidence. It would devastate me if this club were in the Championship." [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League team newsShearer gets to workNewcastle's league run-inToon Army rallies on bid interestShearer promises big fuss for KeeganPearce fears repeat struggle if City dont invest in playersShearer oversaw training this morning, and said: 'The response has been fantastic. The training was superb. I said to them after training that if you keep that determination you'll be OK. It's a massive job to be done in very difficult circumstances, but we'll give it a right good go.' [LNB]Shearer, Newcastle's record goalscorer, was offered the job on Sunday and asked for a night to 'sleep on it.' [LNB]'I got a call on Saturday," he said. "They came and saw me on Sunday evening. It was put to me that they'd like me to take charge for the final eight games. They gave me the night to think about it. On Monday morning I spoke to Mike [Ashley] and said I'd do it. From then on it was a matter of getting contracts sorted out.' [LNB]Hundreds of fans gathered outside St James' Park, and Shearer said to the club's supporters: 'They know me, and they know they'll get 100 per cent 24 hours a day for the next seven or eight weeks. [LNB]'It would sadden me this club were in the championship. They deserve better. The powers that be will admit mistakes have been made this season. But that's gone. We can't do anything about it. It's history.' [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph