Superb fans deserve better than relegation

May 25 2009 The Journal

Shearer apologises to fans for fall from top flight

ALAN Shearer apologised to the fans after the club went down.

Newcastle’s fate was confirmed after 16 years in the top flight when they were beaten 1-0 at Aston Villa via a first half own goal from Damien Duff.

Shearer conceded that the Magpies had let down the club’s vast army of supporters and he refused to be drawn over whether he would be back next season.

But he admitted that over the season Newcastle had "not been good enough" to hold on to their place amongst the elite.

He said: "This is so painful. This really hurts. The second half summed up our season in that it was flat and we ran out of legs.

"But we haven’t been relegated because of what happened today. We have gone down because of what has happened over 38 games. Big changes need to be made at the club, players need to go in, players need to go out.

"But we haven’t given our magnificent supporters enough to shout about. We have let them down."

Shearer added: "I came in expecting to turn things around. I take my share of the blame. I thought I could get the right results for us. I will sit down with the owners and the chairman sometime this week and give my opinions. Have I the desire to stay on? I know you won’t believe it but I haven’t had the time to sit down and think if that is the right thing for the club.

"But decisions do need to be made sooner rather than later. I will have time now to look and reflect. But it is up to these guys (in charge) where they want to go. They do need to decide where the football club is going to head."