Shearer Bottles It?

Last Updated : 29-Nov-2008 by
The permanent appointment of Kinnear to the Newcastle manager's post is expected to end the speculation regarding Shearer's claims to the job, and let's face it ... Kinnear has won the battle of words with the former Toon skipper.

He offered Shearer a job ... but he turned ... Kinnear feels he can do no more, and that must get the threat of Shearer off his back for the short term at least.

We all know Shearer would never work under the former Wimbledon boss, just as he wouldn't work under Kevin Keegan.

And Shearer will not take ANY job at SJP while Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise are pulling the strings.

Joe Kinnear: "I said he'd be welcome to come in any time to give the place a lift and work with our strikers.

"Alan has been in touch. He rang up to apologise and said the stories the Press are putting out about me - there is no truth in any of them whatsoever and I am sorry.

"He said sorry and I said, it's okay I understand. I said he would be welcome to come in any time, that he would give the place a lift because he's one of best strikers in the world and that he can come and work with me.

"He said that is very kind of you but I am not ready for it yet. I said 'fine'. It was very honourable of him. There is nothing malicious about Alan at all.

"It (the threat from Shearer) is never going to go away - we are both aware of that.

"But I told him he is more than welcome to come and help us out, there is not a problem between the pair of us, there is no aggravation.

"I've always hoped to get the opportunity to come here and do the job. There was a doubt because of the club getting sold.

"But they can't see the club being sold. Something might be round the corner but the offers haven't been enough."