Sir Bobby Robson insists Alan Shearer should be handed the Newcastle United manager's job.
Sir Bobby backs Toon legend for St James' post
Sir Bobby Robson insists Alan Shearer should be handed the Newcastle United manager's job.
The Magpies are searching for their seventh boss in 10 years following the departure of Sam Allardyce after just 24 games in charge.
Portsmouth chief Harry Redknapp has already rejected the chance to take the St James' Park hotseat, with newspaper reports now suggesting that the club could be ready to turn to a managerial duo of Shearer and former boss Kevin Keegan.
But Robson, in charge of the Magpies from 1999-2004, believes Shearer should be given sole responsibility.
The former England international is a legendary figure on Tyneside and holds the club's all-time goalscoring record, and Robson claims he will always cast a long shadow over anyone else at the helm.
Unique
He told
The Mail on Sunday: "Owner Mike Ashley has a simple but important decision to make. Does he turn to local legend Alan Shearer, even though he is untested, or choose a man with experience, a safer option, such as Mark Hughes, Gerard Houllier or Martin Jol.
"Ninety-nine times out of 100, I would call for experience; Newcastle would normally be too big for a first-timer. But Shearer is different. He has the status and charisma of few other personalities in this country.
"I know Shearer hasn't been a manager before. But he is a unique case because of his standing in the city and the force of his personality. It's not his fault, but whoever takes the job will have his ghost on their shoulder because of the strength of feeling towards him in the North-East.
"Until he becomes manager, the Shearer factor won't go away. So why not silence everybody now?
"He is available, lives in the town and is an iconic figure. He doesn't have managerial experience but he does have plenty of big-match experience.
"If he comes out and wants the job, Newcastle should give him a chance. They cannot afford to be turned down again by someone like Hughes.
"I know most Geordie fans would like Kevin Keegan to come back so Alan could learn from him. But I don't see Shearer as anyone's No.2. If anybody came in, he would have to help Shearer rather than the other way round.
"Make Shearer boss or there is no point in having him."
