Dowie always knew Shearer was destined for management

Apr 3 2009 by Stephen Brown, The Journal

“He obviously knows that I’m a tracksuit manager and that I like to get involved in the coaching. And we have a very open and frank relationship which, to be fair, works very well.

“Alan said to me what he wanted and make no bones about it, I’ve come in to try to shape the team that Alan wants. That will be certain types of training. We dovetailed very well in training this morning.

“I’m very intense, very hands-on. Alan chipped in with some very good points at crucial times.

“There was a sense that it was a fresh dawn. For me, I’m very much looking forward to it.

“I can take all the mundane things that sometimes drive you mad as a manager away, in terms of the organisational stuff that Alan doesn’t have to worry about and which has a massive effect on time.

“Me and Paul (Ferris) can deal with that. That’s very important, that Alan is very clear and single-minded about team selection and about getting performances.”

Ferris is returning as physio, having spent recent years training to become a barrister.

And in good-humoured reference to his courtroom battles with Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan – who sued him when he quit the Selhurst Park club for family reasons and then quickly took the Charlton job – Dowie added: “We’ve brought Paul on board, who’s very similarly minded and he’s a trained barrister as well, so he’s a bright lad – I could have done with him a few years ago!”