THE two consortia leading the race to buy Newcastle United both want to appoint Alan Shearer as manager as the sale of the troubled Championship club continues to advance.

Shearer has received some encouraging news from United managing director Derek Llambias this week and a resolution to the ongoing takeover saga appears to be in sight.

The Journal revealed last week that Seymour Pierce, the bank in charge of the sale process, are confident new owners will be unveiled before the end of the month and that target remains a realistic one according to those directly involved in the deal.

And it seems Shearer may well be in the manager’s chair just as quickly after he was told by Llambias the two serious bidders intending to take over control from Mike Ashley believe he is the right man to try and propel the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

That has been the first good news Shearer has received from the United hierarchy since his final face-to-face meeting with Ashley almost a month ago.

The apparent breakthrough was enough for Shearer to contact defenders Steven Taylor and Habib Beye to urge them both to be patient following reports they were tempted to quit St James’s Park because of the lack of progress surrounding his unveiling as permanent manager.

A source close to Shearer said: “There has been some contact between Alan and Derek Llambias this week and it seems the two serious bidders that emerged last week both intend to appoint him as manager once a takeover is completed.

“It’s definitely some positive news at last, although no timescale has been given so we don’t know exactly when it is going to happen.

“There is still a bit of work to be done by the sounds of things and until it happens, Alan will not be getting carried away with anything.”