He's not the Messiah, he's a very Geordie boy - but Shearer hailed as a hero

[Elano]

New manager Alan Shearer has called on Newcastle's supporters to forgive and forget as they embark on a "massive fight" for Barclays Premier League survival.

Yesterday's news of Shearer's appointment for the remaining eight games of the campaign has been met with wild celebrations on Tyneside, where fans have spent most of the season in open rebellion against the regime of club owner Mike Ashley.

Addressing the supporters at his unveiling this afternoon, Shearer, the club's all-time top scorer, said: "They know me as well as anyone and know they will get 100%, 24 hours a day for next eight weeks.

"I hope that will be good enough because it would sadden me and thousands of supporters if we were in the Championship. They don't deserve that, they deserve better.

"The powers that be have admitted mistakes were made this season and it's important that whatever mistakes have been made, they're gone. It's history - we can't do anything about it."

Shearer added: "We've got a massive fight on our hands, in very difficult circumstances, we've got injuries - but we'll face it head on and give it a right good go."

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Alan Shearer king of Newcastle as Ashley axes Cockney Mafia

Alan Shearer was made king of St James' Park last night, as Mike Ashley axed his so- called 'Cockney Mafia' and handed the strike legend total control of Newcastle.

Ashley ended Dennis Wise's controversial job late last night and sensationally scrapped his role as director of football, bowing to Shearer's demands that he be handed all the power.

And with Shearer building his own backroom staff yesterday, including Iain Dowie as his No. 2, he is now set up to take the job long term rather than for just eight games.

Shearer will earn a hefty seven- figure bonus if his rescue job saves Newcastle from the drop. But he is also being urged to stay on even if the club are relegated to help rebuild from scratch. Newcastle were last night holding talks with Joe Kinnear to clarify his future.

He had fancied an "upstairs" role after his heart op, but is more likely to depart. It is complicated by the club offering him a twoyear contract extension, which was not signed.

Shearer said last night: "Like thousands of people in Newcastle I desperately don't want this club to go down and I'll be working with the staff to try and prevent that.

"There is a nucleus of players here who can get this club out of trouble. It's a tough, tough situation that Newcastle are in and I feel deeply for this club and believe I can help it." N

ewcastle officially announced he will return as boss "for the last eight games of the season" at 10pm last night.

He will be unveiled today and outline his blue print for management. Toon managing director Derek Llambias said: "Already there is a buzz around the club and the city. The news has given everyone a massive boost."

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He's not the Messiah, he's a very Geordie boy - but Shearer hailed as a hero

Alan Shearer has urged Newcastle United to forget the mistakes of the past and concentrate on the "massive task" at hand, as he was unveiled as the club's latest manager.

Shearer took charge of his first training session this morning and although he said he had been overwhelmed by the reaction of the supporters to his appointment, he was quick to dismiss any thoughts that the battle was over.

"We've got a massive fight on our hands, we know that, it's a massive job to be done in very, very difficult circumstances, but we'll face it head on," he said.

"The powers that be have admitted that mistakes have been made this season and we would all agree with that. It is important that whatever mistakes have been made, they've gone. We can't do anything about it.

"We're third bottom of the league. Whether that is because of bad luck, bad play, low confidence, refereeing decisions, it doesn't matter. That's gone, it's history, we can't do anything about it.

"What we can do something about is as of now, for the remaining eight games."

However, Newcastle's leading scorer maintained that whatever happened, he would only be in charge until the end of the season with Joe Kinnear set to return as manager in the summer.

"I'm here for eight games and eight games only," he said. "I want this club to stay up. Then the powers that be will decide what direction they want to go in."

Shearer admitted he had been extremely impressed by the attitude of the players in his first training session.

"The response has been fantastic. I've gone in this morning and seen all the players, spoke to them, spoke to the staff and the training was superb.

"They've set a standard this morning that we want them to keep to. If they keep that standard up, keep that determination up, then I think we'll be OK, I really do.

In response to the euphoria surrounding his return Shearer pledged that he would give his all to ensure the club he loved remained in the Premier League.

"I think the fans know me as well as anyone does. They know that they will get 100 per cent 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I hope that will be good enough, I really do.

"It would sadden me and it would sadden the thousands and thousands of people who support this football club if it were in the Championship. They don't deserve that, they deserve better."

[tempo2]

great news for my local club newcastle. im newcastle born and bred and theres no-one better we need right now, hopefully he's motivation alone will enable us too steal a game or 2 to stay in the top flight. There isnt a bigger god on tyneside then shearer, dudes an absoloute legend. and to people who dont know his pedigree he was the top scorer of alltime in the premier league, how that translates into management remians to be seen tho.

[wardy]

Hope he does well, Newcastle are one of them clubs that deserve to do so much better than they have done

I wonder if he gets the job full time he will be very nice and loan my team PNE either Martins or Owen  we can all dream LOL 

[bez]

Any football fan will tell you that Newcastle don't deserve shit. Relegation would be justified for years of moaning, calling themselves a 'big club' and trying to compete with 'big clubs' instead of setting realistic targets. Any true British football fan will tell you that Newcastle are NOT a big club, the only things big about them are the stadium and the fan base, which is because they are the only team in the city. They have no real top quality players, have been run and managed shit, major expectations which can't be met, and basically are just a shite club.

[Elano]

They have no real top quality players.

Ok its the past but Alan Shearer was a great player,one of the english best players of all time 

[bez]

They have no real top quality players.

Ok its the past but Alan Shearer was a great player,one of the english best players of all time 

yeah.... thats like saying, Everton had Gary Linekar, Arsenal had Thierry Henry, Manchester United had Eric Cantona. They have no real top quality players now. Owen is the only half decent player but doesnt play enough anymore to be considered top quality.

[Paul]

Any football fan will tell you that Newcastle don't deserve shit. Relegation would be justified for years of moaning, calling themselves a 'big club' and trying to compete with 'big clubs' instead of setting realistic targets. Any true British football fan will tell you that Newcastle are NOT a big club, the only things big about them are the stadium and the fan base, which is because they are the only team in the city. They have no real top quality players, have been run and managed shit, major expectations which can't be met, and basically are just a shite club.

So true

[KURUPTION-81]

Might aswell put ant and dec in charge with cheryl cole as assistant manager.

Another case of an ex player getting a job without the qualifications and picked just because of there name.

If my side was about to be relegated id want a manager with experience put in charge, not a pundit.

[tempo2]

Any football fan will tell you that Newcastle don't deserve shit. Relegation would be justified for years of moaning, calling themselves a 'big club' and trying to compete with 'big clubs' instead of setting realistic targets. Any true British football fan will tell you that Newcastle are NOT a big club, the only things big about them are the stadium and the fan base, which is because they are the only team in the city. They have no real top quality players, have been run and managed shit, major expectations which can't be met, and basically are just a shite club.

yeah, but hows that newcastle fans fault? how is that the likes of my fault and 50,000+ other fans who go to newcastle games every weeks fault? the fact is newcastle have the resources, the stadium and the base to be a good team. its just been totally mismanaged and the they (the fans) deerve much better. you make your point sound like its the newcastle fans fault.

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

Any football fan will tell you that Newcastle don't deserve shit. Relegation would be justified for years of moaning, calling themselves a 'big club' and trying to compete with 'big clubs' instead of setting realistic targets. Any true British football fan will tell you that Newcastle are NOT a big club, the only things big about them are the stadium and the fan base, which is because they are the only team in the city. They have no real top quality players, have been run and managed shit, major expectations which can't be met, and basically are just a shite club.

Agree. Where Newcastle fans get the impression they are a "Big Club" i dont know. They have no history, success wise Aberdeen are a bigger club. Newcastle had a good thing going with Allardyce and should have stuck with him, consolidated for a couple of years and then had a look at whether the football was entertaining enough.

I dont even dislike Newcastle, i loved their football under Keegan the first time around but i think they need a reality check and maybe relegation will do it?