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Shearer rules himself out of Toon job

06/09/2008

Alan Shearer has ruled out the chance of him replacing Kevin Keegan as manager of Newcastle United.

Magpies fans were clamouring for Shearer to take over from Sam Allardyce last season but the former striker resisted the calls on that occasion as well.

The fans were placated by owner Mike Ashley when he brought Keegan back to the club, however, his acrimonious departure has done nothing to endear the job to Shearer.

Once more the presence of Dennis Wise as football director could be the stumbling block with Shearer wary of not being in total control of the club.

He told the Sun: "I do want to be a manager but I believe a manager has to be allowed to manage and it looks like Kevin Keegan was not.

"When you are a manager you live or die by your decisions and if a manager is not allowed to make those decisions you cannot manage a football club."

With Alan Curbishley walking out of West Ham United last week for similar reasons to Keegan, Shearer says it is becoming harder and harder for managers to do their jobs.

He added: "You cannot work as a manager properly if someone else is deciding which players you buy and which you sell.

"I totally understand why Kevin has walked out and why Alan Curbishley has done the same thing this week at West Ham."

Shearer also recently turned down the chance to apply for the manager's position at Blackburn Rovers when Mark Hughes left for Manchester City.