Shearer must stay Magpies manager says Viduka

May 13 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

MARK Viduka has described Alan Shearer as the perfect manager for Newcastle United as he urged the club’s board to do everything they can to ensure he is appointed permanently at the end of the season.

Viduka has been reborn under Shearer and, while the powerful striker admits he is playing for a new contract at St James’s Park, he could not have been more positive about the impact the former United skipper has had on the team.

The Australian international, who was Newcastle’s man-of-the-match in the vital 3-1 win over Middlesbrough, made no secret of his frustration under former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear and believed he had played his last game for the club before Shearer took over – supposedly on a temporary basis – with eight games left to play.

It now seems almost certain that Shearer will be named permanent manager at the end of the season and Viduka insisted – regardless of whether he is still a Newcastle player after another injury ravaged campaign – it is imperative that happens in the summer.

“What I would say is that I would love to spend some more time at this club,” said Viduka, who was only making his 10th appearance of the season against Boro.

“That’s my personal thing. I would love to play here and have good times, and with Alan Shearer as a boss, this club has a lot of potential. I have been here for two years and we’ve had five managers.

“I would say to whoever is in charge, keep him for as long as he needs. That is

my thinking. I think first of all the fans love him, he is Newcastle through and through, he is a big personality, people respect him, players respect him.