Nothing article from The Guardian
Alan Shearer's return to Newcastle United as manager may have failed to spark an immediate improvement in results but it is looking increasingly likely that he will extend his stay beyond the end of the season even if the Magpies are relegated. Although the official line from boardroom and manager is that he will step down to allow Joe Kinnear, who is recovering at home following heart surgery, to return, there is a growing feeling on Tyneside and among close friends that this is a long-term project for Shearer.
The former Newcastle captain has steadfastly maintained he took the job for only eight games to prevent the club from crashing into the Championship while Kinnear recovered. However, there have been a series of less-than-subtle suggestions from Shearer and his assistant, Iain Dowie, that he would like to keep the job.
Dowie has spoken excitedly about the prospect of taking on an ambitious project at St James' Park, claiming "it just needs someone to get it going again" while also talking about the need for "stability and long-term thinking".
Shearer has also let his guard down, revealing last week that he has told the striker Mark Viduka he will look at whether to offer him a new one-year contract at the end of the season, something which would be beyond his remit if he were set to leave next month.
The club's scouting system has also been overhauled under his guidance following the departure of the unpopular former executive director (football), Dennis Wise, and Shearer confirmed transfer planning for next season is "all still happening" with him in charge.
Despite taking just one win from his first three games as a manager, Shearer, who should welcome the midfielder Joey Barton and left-back José Enrique back from injury against Portsmouth on Monday night, also admits he cannot help but revel in the intensity of the job. He said: "There are so many emotions. You're up, you're down, I don't know how to describe, it to be honest. You have a million things going through your head. You can't switch off at all.
"I think it would be wrong to say I'm enjoying it when we're not getting the right result but during it I'm enjoying the battle. I would enjoy it a hell of a lot more if we got some points.
"I knew the size of the task going into it. I knew that the players were low on confidence and I knew there were a lot of injuries. But I still believed, and still do believe, that we have enough to get ourselves out of it. I think with tactics and psychology, there's room to improve on everything."
Despite enjoying the challenge, Shearer's stay will depend on the assurances he receives from the owner, Mike Ashley, at the end of the season. The United hierarchy, though, would find it almost impossible not to appoint him permanently were he to keep them up – Newcastle are four points adrift of safety with five games left to play – while they know he is the one person who can offer renewed hope if he takes charge of the team in the Championship.
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Which game did we win again?
