Shearer to discuss future role with Keegan
Sunday, 20 January 2008 11:28Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan will decide at the end of the week whether the former Newcastle United striker has a role to play at the club.
Shearer, who retired as a Newcastle player 18 months ago, said he had had a brief phone conversation with new Newcastle manager Keegan on Friday, but nothing would be decided until he returned from Uganda at the end of the week.
Keegan, meanwhile, said he would only consider Shearer returning to work with him at St James' Park as long as the former England striker stopped his media work.
Shearer, who is going to Uganda for the BBC's Sport Relief project, said on Saturday night's Match of the Day: 'I've got to ring him when I get back at the end of the week.
'I'll sit down with him at the end of the week and we'll discuss it and see what's best for everyone.
'He's been so busy, he's gone into the club, he's got that many staff there, he doesn't know some of their names.
'He had a huge game today, which was far more important than speaking to any individual,' Shearer said.
Shearer, the club's all-time record scorer who has been working as a media pundit since retiring as a player, added that he thought the team needed to buy a creative midfielder in the transfer market, which is open for another 11 days.
Keegan said after yesterday's disappointing 0-0 draw at home against Bolton Wanderers that Shearer could come back as his number two but only if he stops his media work.
'If he says to me 'I don't want to be number two' then there really isn't any point in having a long conversation,' Keegan said.
'I think there is an involvement for Alan at this football club and involvement at this moment could be on his terms.
'What a fantastic player to have around the club, to help people with the art of goalscoring and just talking to the players.
'But if you can't be there on a Saturday because you have to do TV work then you can't ever think of yourself as a number two.'
Keegan also said he thought Shearer would one day become Newcastle manager.
