Shearer's fears on pre-season training return

Jun 26 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ALAN Shearer will not be attending a meeting with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in London today and United’s manager-in-waiting fears he will not be able to take control of the team for the start of pre-season training.

Shearer has never had any intention of travelling to the capital to discuss matters with Newcastle’s want-away owner and no meeting was planned for the end of the week as Seymour Pierce continue to negotiate with a number of groups who have shown genuine interest in buying the club.

Instead, Shearer will wait for managing director Derek Llambias’s return to Newcastle on Tuesday before asking for any fresh updates on his bid to become permanent manager.

However, United’s former captain is as determined as ever to become manager and is confident he will be offered the job once the new owners have emerged.

A source close to Shearer said: “There are two groups talking to Seymour Pierce, maybe even three now and things are moving along, but there was never a meeting in London to decide anything on Friday.”

Although significant progress has made been made in terms of a takeover, the frustrating saga will almost certainly drag into another week as the two consortia leading the race to buy the club continue to look at how they are going to bankroll it following the financial catastrophe caused by relegation to the Championship.

United’s wage bill devoured almost 70% of the club’s turnover in the Premier League and this is the major stumbling block to any deal as the interested groups have to work out how they are going to not only find the £100m to buy the club, but also the money needed to stabilise its finances and ensure there is money to spend to strengthen the squad.

Nevertheless, those discussions have advanced over the last few days and, while false hope may have been given following inaccurate reports Shearer was set to be offered the job today, the takeover process continues to move in the right direction.

The strict non-disclosure agreements signed by the serious bidders ensures none are able to discuss the takeover process.

While progress may seem slow on the outside, sources close to the deal have suggested an announcement could still be imminent.