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Shearer pulls out of running for Blackburn job

12/06/2008

BBC football pundit Alan Shearer has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Blackburn Rovers manager's job.

The former Rovers striker won the Premier League title - his only major honour as a player - with the club in 1995.

And many pundits had touted the 37-year-old as a possible successor to Mark Hughes, who left in order to join Manchester City.

However, Shearer, speaking on the BBC's Match of the Day Live coverage of the Turkey v Switzerland match at Euro 2008 last night, categorically stated he was not interested in taking over at Ewood Park in what would be his first ever managerial appointment.

"The situation is that I was very flattered to get a call from chief executive John Williams of Blackburn," the former England international explained.

"He asked me if I would like to be included on a shortlist for the manager's job, which I politely declined because of a lot of commitments I have, namely this one [as a pundit on the BBC]."

Shearer reiterated he was "very flattered" to have been considered among some possible candidates for the role, but he said it was not the right time to take up the high-profile post.

"[Williams] has made two great decisions for the last two managers [Hughes and Graeme Souness] and I'm sure he'll go on and make a third one and I wished him good luck," Shearer added.

The former Newcastle United favourite was also linked with a role on the coaching team at St James' Park earlier this year, but again turned down the opportunity because of his media commitments.

However, he has consistently maintained he harbours an interest in pursuing a coaching career at some point in the future.