Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall has welcomed the news that Alan Shearer is returning to the club.
Former chairmen delight at appointment
Former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall has welcomed the news that Alan Shearer is returning to the club.
Hall - Newcastle supremo for five years up to 1997 - brought Shearer to Newcastle in 1996 when he financed a world-record transfer of £15million.
Hall is now hoping that Shearer will steer the club to safety and become the club's manager on a long-term basis.
"I'm delighted at the news, but it's not the circumstances I'd have wanted him to come back," said Hall.
"I'd have preferred him to come back as long-term manager because I've always felt he was the only man at this moment in time who could manage Newcastle.
"He's the most dedicated professional I've ever known in my time in the game. Desperate measures, desperate times. There's a gap opening up at the bottom of the table and he'll galvanise all the fans - let's hope he galvanises the players.
"It's got to happen on the park. If it doesn't happen on the park we'll go down.
"When we took Keegan back 20 years ago he always had the knowledge of the game and the players and he had that magic touch.
"I think Alan's got the same. He's been out of the game for a while but he knows the game.
"I think he'll be great. I'm absolutely delighted at the news - not at the circumstances, I don't think he should be judged on these eight games."
Shepherd pleased
Another former chairman Freddy Shepherd also welcomed the news.
"I think it's great news," he said.
"Newcastle are in a fight now, they're in the trenches, and Alan is the man to carry on the fight.
"It's more of an institution than a club, everybody knows about Newcastle.
"It doesn't matter where you go in the world, they all want to know about Newcastle United.
"There's been a lot of controversy in the past, it's well known for the managers it's had, and it's a famous club, end of story."
