Shearer ready to make demands

Damien Duff’s own goal condemned the Magpies to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, and confirmed Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship after a 16-year stay in the topflight.

Shearer’s eight-match reign has ended, and the former Newcastle skipper has still to decide whether he will continue next season.

Ashley sees him as the perfect man to spearhead United’s Championship promotion push, but when the pair meet in the next two or three days, Shearer will seek a number of assurances over the club’s financial position.

Newcastle will lose at least £50m following their relegation, and with a wage bill that tops the £80m-a-year mark, Shearer claims some big decisions are necessary if the Magpies are to avoid becoming the new Leeds United.

“I think a lot of people will try to make a comparison (to the situation at Leeds),” said Newcastle’s all-time record goalscorer. “It depends on where people want the football club to go.

“The reality is that we will be starting next season in the Championship. The expectation will be huge, but there’s a lot of work needed between now and then to get the club ready for that.

“There are huge problems at the club – I think that’s clear for everyone to see.

“Relegation isn’t about today – it’s about what’s gone on this season, last season and the season before. It’s a culmination of everything. In the end, the three worst teams go down and, unfortunately, Newcastle are one of them.”

If Shearer is to remain in charge – and it still seems likely despite his refusal to commit himself to anything in the immediate aftermath of yesterday’s game – he will want to oversee a wholesale restructuring of the club’s playing staff.

Michael Owen and Mark Viduka will not be returning once their contracts officially expire at the end of next month, while the likes of Obafemi Martins, Fabricio Coloccini and Sebastien Bassong are also likely to have played their final game for the Magpies.

The clear-out will not stop there, but Newcastle could struggle to move on people like Alan Smith, Damien Duff, Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt even if they want to, given the size of their wages.

Shearer will also want money to make signings of his own, and this week’s meeting with Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias is likely to be a heated and honest affair.

“Those guys have big decisions to make,” he said. “I’ll sit down with the owners and the chairman this week and give my opinions. Big decisions need to be made – players need to go, and players need to come in.

“What needs to change? A hell of a lot needs to change.

There’s a million things you can look at this season, last season, and going back a long way that haven’t been right.

“I’m not blaming anyone – it’s happened – but what’s important now is that the football club gets back on track.”

But will Shearer be a part of that process?

The last eight weeks have clearly given him a taste for management, and while he will demand assurances over the structure that is put into place above him – chief of which will be the absence of a director of football-type figure – it seems unlikely that he will desert his beloved Newcastle in their hour of need.

“I know you won’t believe me, but I honestly haven’t had time to sit down and think about what my future will be,” said Shearer. “I haven’t thought about what would be the right thing for the club.

“But I’m hurting. I take my share of responsibility for what’s happened, and feel sorry that I’ve let those wonderful supporters down.

“I have a tremendous relationship with the supporters, for whatever reason, and I’ve worked very, very hard to try to rectify the situation.

“It hasn’t worked for a variety of reasons, and I regret that.

“I’m raw inside, as are a lot of people involved in the club.

But the simple fact of the matter is that big mistakes have been made and we’re paying the price for that now.”