Odds cut on Shearer for Toon

Magpies legend in link to Newcastle manager's role

By Chris Harvey   Last updated: 10th November 2008

Odds cut on Shearer for Toon

Shearer: Odds slashed on management role at Newcastle

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Speculation is mounting that Alan Shearer could become the next manager of Newcastle United.

Following reports talks over a takeover at the North-East club are at an advanced stage, Sky Bet have cut odds on Shearer taking charge of the Magpies from 8/1 to 6/4 following significant support on Monday from the Newcastle area.

Interim manager Joe Kinnear is out to 9/2 (from 3/1) to be appointed on a permanent basis.

The latest name linked with buying out Magpies owner Mike Ashley is Philip Anschutz, the billionaire LA Galaxy supremo.

And it would appear Anschutz is keen to win favour with the fans by bringing in Geordie legend Shearer as boss.

According to the Daily Telegraph, only two US-based investors are left in the race to buy the troubled club.

While Anschutz is being billed as the Magpies' most credible suitor, Dallas-based businessman Clark Hunt, who owns MLS side FC Dallas and NFL outfit Kansas City Chiefs, is also being mooted as a serious rival.

Since hanging up his boots, Shearer has often been linked with a move into management at St James' Park and had discussions with former boss Kevin Keegan about a role alongside him earlier this year.

Only last month, he re-iterated his desire to move into a managerial role, admitting: "Management interests me.

"I can't turn round and say 'yes, I would be delighted to come here (to Newcastle)', because that would be wrong of me.

Successful

"But management interests me, at some stage of my career. I wouldn't rule anything out."

It is thought Ashley, who put the club up for sale following a fans' revolt over Keegan's resignation, will put Newcastle's future ahead of personal gain with the highest bidder not necessarily bound to be successful.

Instead, Ashley is expected to place emphasis on the prospective purchasers' financial credentials.

Newcastle's books are expected to be scrutinised soon under the due diligence process and a formal bid is expected to be lodged before the end of the month.

The favourable exchange rate for the dollar against the pound has strengthened the position of would-be American investors.

Keith Harris, the London-based investment banker who is handling the sale of Newcastle on Ashley's behalf, confirmed last week a field of seven potential buyers had been drastically narrowed down.

"We have two very serious contenders to buy it (Newcastle)," Harris said.

"Mike wants to get a maximum price but he also wants to make sure that it goes into hands that will look after it and nurture it for the future."

"It is not easy doing anything in this world whether it's selling a football club or anything else, but it will come through. It's not been a question of dropping the price from that level. It's been a question of making sure people have the absolute facts."

Comments (21)

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Andy Clarke (Newcastle United fan) says...

Scot Watson has nailed it (I am agreeing with a mackem) until Shearer has had the job any 2 defeats in a row regardless of who is the manager will result in a call for Shearer to be given the job. Get him in place if it works then great if not then at least that is a huge monkey off our backs and some reality can return to our beloved club where we chose a manager with good credentials and allow him time.

Posted 09:21 12th November 2008

Kavi Pabari (Arsenal fan) says...

What is it with Newcastle and appointing either managers that managed years ago in the premiership when it was totally different to what it is now like Joe Kinnear and Kevin Keagan or they want to appoint the most inexperienced people like Alan Shearer. Then Newcastle sit down and complain that they are not progressing what do you expect. Do what Daniel Levy did at Tottenham scrap the whole backroom team get rid of the Manager, Director of Football and bring in somebody who knows what they are doing and certainly stop bringing back managers from the past ! Otherwise this club can forget about honours.

Posted 14:38 11th November 2008

Ken Forster (Newcastle United fan) says...

Management at all levels is about motivation and discipline this brings respect. look at the best managers Ferguson Wenger Scolari ect they have those qualities in abundance, the rest of it can be taken care of by a team drawn together by the manager. I have no fear in Shearer because he has had those qualities all his playing life, their is a learning curve but that is surely smaller in a place you know well.

Posted 14:36 11th November 2008

John Walker (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Shearer is not the right person for the managers role at newcastle. They need someone who can sit aside from the passion and romance of the newcastle faithful. Whilst I agree that Newcastle are (potentially) a big club, they will never succeed until they drop this passion and romance they have. They have to re-build their club from the bottom and it will take time. newcastle need an experienced manager who has been there and done it. When Gareth Southgate took over at Middlesbrough, he was entering a club that was well run, financially sound and that allowed him to concentrate on the team alone. Newcastle and Shearer will not have that luxury. In addition, if the two potential buyers are american, they will want to run the american system similar to Mike Ashley! This does not work in the premier league and they will require someone with immense experience and diplomacy. Someone in the Bobby Robson mould.

Posted 11:15 11th November 2008

Phil Mason (Newcastle United fan) says...

I am a devoted fan, my heart says that Shearer would be fantastic for all, but my head tells me it could be the worst move for both Shearer and NUFC. Kinnear is doing a good job with what he has, if the players were to show the same loyalty as Shearer, we would not be in this mess, only when Ashley disposes of the club, can we look forward to "hopefully" a brighter future.

Posted 09:12 11th November 2008

Pilirani Namalomba (Chelsea fan) says...

Allan can be a good thing for Newcastle. He is respected by the fans and the players and i believe they all have confidence in him, this can be a good thing Newcastle United

Posted 07:51 11th November 2008

Tony L (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

It's quiet obvious from the comments that most Newcastle fans really don't want a successful football club. Shearer is not the man for the job until he proves himself at a lower level and even then it is still risky to bring your hero back to your club. Look what happened when Hoddle return to the lane. It is also obvious that the fans make the decisions at the club and when the chairman succumbs to your pressure and makes the decision you want, when that all goes wrong you blame him. It is all very surreal.

Posted 06:47 11th November 2008

Matt James (Arsenal fan) says...

Great footballers don't necessarily makes good managers. It's a different thing altogether. It would make no sense at all to put a guy in charge of big club when he has no experience whatsoever, just because he was there as a player. He will have a bit of a honeymoon. win a couple of games, then the problem will start and that's when experience becomes vital. Dennis Bergkamp is learning his trade with the youth team at Ajax. That is the intelligent way of doing things. I think Newcastle could really do with intelligent solutions, rather than fixes based on 'emotion and passion'.

Posted 03:46 11th November 2008

Frank S (Fulham fan) says...

Living in LA we are quite familiar with both the Hunts and Anschutz-from my end AEG is better at running facilities than owning teams (very bottom-line oriented) and the results of their teams in LA (both the LA Galaxy and LA Kings hockey team) reflect this... Hunt Sports seems to generally do things on the cheap also... On the other hand-AEG has been very successful with the Houston franchise in MLS...on and off the field.

Posted 03:20 11th November 2008

David Langborne (Liverpool fan) says...

I respect the way that Newcastle fans think with their hearts, but they seem to be living in a bubble far from reality. Why would you take someone who has zero managerial experience, just because he lives & breathes Newcastle? It's crazy. You might as well pull someone out of the stands to do the job. I think it's inevitable that Shearer will be Newcastle boss one day, but he needs a couple of seasons in a lower league (& to complete his UEFA Pro License) before Newcastle should even think about bringing him in. I'm sure he's dying to take the job, just as the fans are dying to see him back, but i think he's the only one with the sense to see that it wouldn't take long for fans to turn their backs on him & for him to lose his hero-status which would be terrible. He would be crazy to take that risk now, and so would the fans, but then again Newcastle fans don't seem to think with their heads. Newcastle is the only club where this could happen, but from non-newcastle fans' point of view, we can only sit back and enjoy the continual (off the pitch) entertainment which rolls out of St. James' Park. Newcastle needs some realism, i.e. fans not thinking that they are a big club, they are not, and not believing that a zero-experienced Shearer can make them one.

Posted 00:23 11th November 2008

Mahlon Haupt (Newcastle United fan) says...

To be honest, most high profile managers can do their job, given the right amount of time. You cannot judge a manager after a few games, only after a few seasons. We the Newcastle faithful need to forget about Keagan or this romantic fantasy about Shearer managing... The glory days are over. Times have changed. We need to leave the past behind and focus on the present. People need to remember something...We as fans are passionate about Keagan and Shearer, because we have shared priceless moments with them...We also have this high expectation that if any one of them manage, Newcastle will be the force they once were. In reality, most of the players in our current squad don't have that same connection, or share that same passion. They don't have that sense of loyalty and gratitude to them as we do. Who is to say they will perform under either one of them? Having a manager that gets the job done is the best choice, based on experience and good track record, not on good memories. Kinnear should stay for now...His swearing is what the players need.....

Posted 00:08 11th November 2008

Chad Arcari (Newcastle United fan) says...

Hero or not I don't think the players will respect Shearer as a Manager as much as they have Kinnear. Our players are of an international spectrum and a team legend won't have as much of an impact on them as a seasoned manager will. We've seen how instability and uncertainty can effect these players. Keep Joe.

Posted 23:54 10th November 2008

Dave Riley (Newcastle United fan) says...

Shearer has no experience and being a good player is no guarantee as a manager, look at Souness et al. KK is the worlds biggest quitter, such a pathetic loser. Joe is doing a job under difficult circumstances and given some of the players we have producing some good results. Lets face it we have about 8 good players, no great ones and there is no investment. Joe is the boy for me.

Posted 23:39 10th November 2008

Phil Ireland (Newcastle United fan) says...

I agree with Ryan, what Newcastle Utd need right now is an experienced manager to ride out the storm. Joe Kinnear may not be everyone's first choice, but Shearer is an unknown quantity at managerial level.

Posted 23:27 10th November 2008

Lee Hopson (Newcastle United fan) says...

Keegan and Shearer will be the best idea. King Kev and shearer does it get any better???

Posted 23:16 10th November 2008

Adam Corlett (Newcastle United fan) says...

Shearer coming back isn't a good idea, just like bringing Keegan back wasn't. Shearer is already a legend in Newcastle and he's got to much to lose with the situation the clubs in. In my opinion they should keep Joe Kinnear for the time being. He's steadied a ship that was in serious danger of sinking fast and he seems to have players paying with confidence that others haven't (Barton and Shola)

Posted 23:04 10th November 2008

Steve Newens (Grimsby Town fan) says...

Its all well and good wanting him in place but what if he fails? he will no longer be the main man on teeside. let him do it on his own time. only he knows when he is ready to take this chance. As a grimby fan i have seen it with paul groves. outstanding player and was plunged straight into management. kept us up in championship 1st year but the relegation year after and he was sacked mid way through the season after that and all the younger generation of gtfc fans see him as a failed manager not the superb player, captain and ambassador to the club he was and most of us wish him well and hopefully one day he will return successfully to blundell park. Its not all roses just because he is a legend! justin whittle was a legend!!

Posted 22:25 10th November 2008

Waleed Jumah (Newcastle United fan) says...

The prospect of our beloved legend Shearer managing Newcastle is both exciting and risky. I have no doubt in Shearer's ability, not to mention his passion and loyalty to the club, but last thing in the world I would want to see is our hero having a a bad management experience; and supporting Newcastle over the years we've learned how quickly hopes can be dashed and how things can turn. Given the shaky state of the club at the moment and Al's lack of managerial experience, this could backfire. Then again Big Al could come in and completely change things around for the better; one thing you learn being a Newcastle supporter is that you just dont know what to expect! my vote would be for KK back until Big Al gets some managerial experience under his belt which would do him a world of good

Posted 20:29 10th November 2008

Scot Watson (Sunderland fan) says...

In my opinion they may as well give the job to Shearer because until he has had a go at it whoever gets the job will be living in his shadow anyway.

Posted 20:22 10th November 2008

Ryan Leggett (Ipswich Town fan) says...

I have to say I find the whole Newcastle situation quite bizarre. The club is currently in the bottom three and the man most want to take over has no managerial experience. That's surely a recipe for disaster. I think Shearer needs either to inherit a successful Newcastle team (sometime in the future) or start at another club. I don't think now is the right time. Kinnear has done a great job so far, I think he should stay until the end of the season and guide the side to safety.

Posted 19:54 10th November 2008
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