In an announcement made with impeccable timing, given todays fiasco at Upton Park, the following has appeared on YahooSports:

NUFC Chairman, Freddie Shepherd, wants Alan Shearer to replace Bobby Robson as boss one day, although the star has played down the prospect.

Shepherd believes Shearer would be the ideal successor to Robson when the 68-year-old former England manager calls time on his career at the top.

"One day, I'd love to see Alan Shearer as manager of Newcastle" Shepherd told BBC Five Live. "I think he's got everything it takes to be a good manager, but a lot of top players aren't good managers.

We've got the strongest squad since Kevin Keegan left. Bobby came in after Ruud Gullit and had to stabilise the position. In the first year, he definitely saved the relegation position. In the second, he rooted out players he didn't want, and in the third he got us on track.

Bobby's got a 12 month rolling contract - and Bobby will go when he wants to go. Every day he wakes up, he's got another 12 months in front of him".

Shearer, however, said there had been no talks about if, or when, he would take over the Newcastle hot-seat, and told the BBC that it was "disrespectful" to speculate on the issue. He said: "There have been no discussions or talks - I think it's a bit disrespectful to Bobby Robson that people keep on talking about me as manager of Newcastle.

I'd like to stay in the game in some capacity, but I'm certainly not taking any coaching badges. I want to concentrate on playing for as long as I can. I've got three years left on my contract and would dearly love to see that out, keeping playing at the top level."

So much then for all the cr@p we were fed about Shearer being 'fast-tracked' by the FA towards his full coaching qualifications.

When they are all taking about "disrespect" they should give some consideration to the "disrespect" they exhibit towards their fans with their BS communications!!

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2001

Answers

After today's performance, and YBR's disillusionment about the performance, it could be sooner rather than later. As for the badges, he'll probably be given them for services rendered to the Football Association.

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2001

That Shearer quote was from last week's interview before the ManU game on Grandstand. Wonder if the Freddie quote was even older?

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001