Shearer Rules Out Newcastle No2 Job

The Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan today confirmed that Alan Shearer will not be his assistant at St James' Park but the former England striker could still have a "very worthwhile role" at the club.

After the return of Keegan to the club, speculation has surrounded Shearer's potential role. The TV pundit had stated his intention to one day manage the club and his relationship with Keegan was thought to be frosty at best, but both parties appeared keen to find an arrangement that saw Shearer involved at the club and the pair held lengthy talks last night. There is another meeting scheduled for Monday.

"We will see what happens on Monday. It will not be as No2, I will tell you that," said Keegan, who spent four hours in deep discussion with Shearer. "It will not be, and that's the conclusion we both came to. But it will be, if he decides to come in, a very worthwhile role."

That the "dream ticket" is no longer an option will disappoint some Newcastle fans, but today's news will at least provide hope that Shearer will play some role in the Keegan regime, and the fact that another meeting is scheduled for Monday suggests that both parties are intent in sorting out the issue as quickly as possible.

Keegan appointed the former United manager Arthur Cox to the club's coaching staff on Monday and the Newcastle coach Terry McDermott this week said: "We would like to think that we now have three people who would absolutely die for this club [Keegan, McDermott and Cox] and, hopefully, there will be a fourth one before not too long."