Shearer waiting for Newcastle's call

Jul 27 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

ALAN Shearer last night claimed he was in “limbo” over his possible appointment as the Newcastle United manager – but vowed he was ready to answer the call if it came.

The Magpies have just 13 days until they begin their Championship campaign with a trip to fellow relegation club West Brom.

Mike Ashley has stalled appointing the club’s all-time top goalscorer as manager as he looks to offload the crisis-hit team to a new owner.

But last night Shearer vowed never to walk away from the St James’s Park hotseat and said that he is desperate to rebuild the team.

“I know as much as you,” he said ahead of a England v Germany charity match for Sir Bobby Robson (above).

England won 3-2, Shearer scoring the winner. “I would dearly love it to be sorted out one way or the other then the club can move forward. I am the same as everyone else, I am in limbo. I don’t know what is going on.

“But I’m ready to answer the call if and when it comes. Everyone is telling me there are people in to buy the club. If that is the case, great.”

Mike Ashley, who bought Newcastle in 2007 for £134.4m, has put the club up for sale for a second time and apologised to fans for his “catastrophic” reign at the club.

It is thought the sports tycoon is willing to accept a cut-price value of around £80m as he looks for a quick sale to offload the crisis-hit club.

But Shearer last night rubbished claims he was set to give up on the Tyneside club.

He said: “I don’t know where that’s come from, it’s certainly not from myself. I want it sorted out as quickly as everyone else does.

“I’m a fan like everyone else and I don’t like to see the situation the club is in.”