NEWCASTLE United will not risk further angering their supporters by appointing Alan Curbishley ahead of Alan Shearer as interim boss.

It was claimed over the weekend that former West Ham and Charlton Athletic boss Curbishley is being lined up to take charge of first-team affairs if Mike Ashley can not broker the quick sale of the club that he craves.

The need for a manager is becoming more pressing by the day, with the return of United’s first-team squad for pre-season training just a fortnight away.

But a move for Curbishley – and the consequent snub for Shearer – would alienate the vast majority of United supporters, who favour the claims of their iconic former number nine.

Those fears have been eased by United managing director Derek Llambias, who told The Journal: "There is no truth in these reports (of contact with Curbishley)."

While news that senior figures at the club have not yet closed the door on Shearer is encouraging, there is little to indicate that the club’s all-time top goal scorer will be appointed any time soon.

A senior source at the club said contact last week that the situation was "ongoing", but Shearer is increasingly downcast by the delay and knows that it is costing him in terms of recruitment.

There are justified fears that he is no longer the first choice of the club’s current board, and Shearer’s meeting with former chairman Freddie Shepherd last week was a further indication that he now sees his best chance of taking over as residing with new owners.

Progress on the managerial front is desperately needed – although ‘Plan B’ appears to be to hand control back to Chris Hughton to oversee pre-season preparations. Whether he would be given any transfer cash or much of a say in recruitment is unclear.

With most managers and senior club personnel from the Championship back this week, United will be at a distinct disadvantage with no boss and an owner looking to cut his association with the club and run.

Shearer has already lost out on at least two signings who had stated their interest in moving to United, and he now fears that the club will miss out in the scramble to sign the best and brightest of the players available on loan.