Source: Telegraph
Alan Shearer would 'dearly love' the chance to return as Newcastle United manager
The former Newcastle skipper, speaking publicly for the first time since talks with club owner Mike Ashley broke down following relegation last May, also warned a “long, hard season” could be on the cards unless new players are added to the payroll at the Championship club.
Shearer, who managed the club on an interim basis last season, was tipped to be handed the role on a long-term basis until Ashley suddenly put the club up for sale but he is still eager to take the job under new owners although rumours persist that the Sports Direct founder is ready to take the club off the market.
As uncertainty surrounds negotiations, Shearer’s attitude would have been music to the ears of Tyneside businessman Barry Moat, the chairman of Shearer’s testimonial committee, who has emerged as the frontrunner to buy the club from Ashley.
Speaking on Football Focus, Shearer said: “I could still be the manager of Newcastle if someone comes in and buys the football club and wants me as manager and everything is right and they want to get the club back up to the Pre mier League then yes I would dearly love the chance to finish off the job I started last season. It was very disappointing last season.”
Asked if Moat takes over whether he will become manager, Shearer replied: “You will have to ask that question if he takes over because there have been so many ifs. There have been four or five groups that have supposedly been in for it.
“Yes he is a friend of mine. I have certainly not discussed the manager’s position with him. Obviously there are confidentiality clauses that these people have to sign just to have a look at the books.
“I have been away on holiday. I just got back in last night. There are too many big ifs at this moment in time. But if you are asking me if I would like to be manager if everything is right then without a doubt I would definitely.”
Shearer was interviewed at the Hawthorns ahead of Newcastle’s Championship opener with West Bromwich Albion which he will attend in his role as a Match of the Day pundit and he made little attempt to disguise his concerns for his hometown club.
“I want it sorted either way because of my love for the football club because at this moment in time it is not a nice time for them,” Shearer said. “When you consider that Newcastle’s squad as thin at the end of last season and it was unbalanced last season when I got in there, when you consider the players that have now gone out – (Michael) Owen, (Habib) Beye, (Mark) Viduka, (Obafemi) Martins, (Sebastien) Bassong, (Peter) Lovenkrands – that tells a story. They are thin on the ground And need players in pretty quickly. It could be a long hard season if that doesn’t happen.
“The club is limbo. At the moment the club is up for sale but they haven’t got a buyer. My last conversation with Mike was on the Tuesday after we’d been relegated and he said he was going to put the club up for sale and wasn’t going to put any more money into it.
“I am obviously aware that there are people out there who are trying to buy the club but at this moment in time no one has.
“My plans must have been welcome, mustn’t they because I am still here.
I put those plans to him and the players I wanted to keep and the players I thought had to be moved on and players I wanted to bring in whether we were still in the Premier League or if we were relegated. I did that but I am still in limbo. I don’t know what’s going on I know as much as anyone else.
