Alan Shearer hints at making Newcastle a long-term project

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ap...-united-manager

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.

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NEWCASTLE FANS ARE TO PRETEND CHAMPIONSHIP IS PREMIER LEAGUE

NEWCASTLE United fans brushed off yesterday's defeat by Spurs insisting they have a fool-proof scheme to guarantee the club a place in next season's top flight.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be played by Iain HumeWith Sir Alan Shearer's team now firmly in the relegation zone, United fans have drawn-up plans to pretend the Championship is now the Premier League.

Shearer has backed the idea stressing that even if the club was to plummet to mid-table in the Conference North, the supporters would still be making travel arrangements for a lengthy Uefa Cup run.

Bill McKay, assistant secretary of the Toon Army supporters club, said: "Ipswich play in blue so they can be Chelsea or Everton.

"We'll have at least one of the Sheffields and no-one's ever entirely sure what league they're in, Derby can be Fulham and we could even pretend Coventry are still a proper football team

"Meanwhile Bristol City will from now on be known as Arsenal, Barnsley can pass for Man Utd if you squint hard enough and Notts Forest should make a perfectly decent Liverpool.

"And just like the old days we won't have to play small teams like Wigan, Stoke, Bolton, Portsmouth and Hull, so we can pretend they're still in the old second division."

United fan Tom Logan added: "Newcastle have the best fans in the Premier League, as anybody who watches Sky Sports knows. So we can't be relegated, otherwise we can't be the best fans in the Premier League. Right? Right? Please say that's right."

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