Freddy: Shearer will be boss

Freddy Shepherd has reiterated that Alan Shearer will be Newcastle manager.

Current incumbent Graeme Souness has always insisted that Shearer should be the man to replace him - although not in the near future.

Shearer's recent decision to prolong his contract and become player-coach was another indication that the veteran striker was being moulded to step into the St James' Park hot-seat one day.

However, Souness is already under pressure following Newcastle miserable run of form recently which has seen them crash out of the Uefa and FA Cups and also slump to lower mid-table in The Premiership.

With Souness's position being called into question, some Newcastle fans are already calling for a change at the top.

"Graeme Souness has already said that he wants Alan Shearer to take over as manager when he leaves," said Shepherd.

"It's what the most of our supporters want - and as I am also a supporter it's what I want."

Shepherd insists that everyone at the club, including himself, should take responsibility for their poor campaign.

"Nobody at St James' Park did a good enough job this season - and that includes me," he said.

"All we can do is to promise the supporters that we will work even harder to bring them the success they want and deserve."

Shepherd insisted that the club will again back Souness in the transfer market.

"No-one can ever accuse the board of not backing our manager in the transfer market and Graeme Souness will get our full backing," he continued.

"In fact, I had a three-hour meeting with the manager yesterday and there are no prizes for guessing what we are talking about."