Shearer confidence rises
Alan Shearer remains hopeful he will take charge of Newcastle United as the sale of the club moves closer.
In the meantime, Chris Hughton is due back at the club's training ground later this week to prepare for the players' imminent return.
Shearer this week spoke to managing director Derek Llambias, who is said to be optimistic a takeover can be concluded before the players report for pre-season training a week today.
Two of the groups in talks with Keith Harris – who was tasked with selling United for upwards of 100m by owner Mike Ashley – are understood to be keen to talk to Shearer, who has been waiting in the wings since the troubled club was put up for sale.
Shearer was anxious to get to work in the aftermath of Newcastle's relegation, and within days of the traumatic defeat at Villa Park the 38-year-old, working unpaid, had drawn up a list of transfer targets and detailed his plans to Ashley and Llambias.
However, since then, a frustrated Shearer has had to take a back seat, with Ashley – whose fortune, which was once said to total 1.8bn, has dwindled significantly since he bought the club – having wasted no time in putting United on the market for the second time in two years.
Former chairman Freddy Shepherd is understand to be among those who have made their interest known to Harris, who has negotiated a number of high-profile deals in recent years.
Against this background, United's training ground has been near-deserted since the end of the season. Coach Hughton is back from holiday and will return to work full time on Monday in advance of the players' return.
Hughton and goalkeeping coach Paul Barron will assume charge of pre-season training until a full-time manager is appointed.
Newcastle's first pre-season friendly is against Dublin side Shamrock Rovers on July 11. United yesterday added another fixture to their schedule, a visit to Dutch club Utrecht on July 26 (2.30pm).
Meanwhile, Kevin Nolan's agent, Mark Curtis, has denied the midfielder is about to sign for Phil Brown's Hull City.
Asked about a report linking Nolan with Hull, Curtis said: "That's not true – Kevin's committed to Newcastle."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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