Shearer only has eyes on silverware

ALAN SHEARER yesterday moved one step closer to his dream of managing Newcastle but believes he still possesses the firepower to help his beloved club finally win a trophy.

The 34-year-old striker yesterday confirmed his decision to postpone his retirement after being handed a new one-year contract as player-coach.

Shearer would not be drawn on the inevitable suggestion he will now be groomed as Graeme Souness’ successor. The Scot admitted he would willingly hand over the reins to him, but only after stamping his own mark on the club.

However, Shearer will concentrate solely on claiming some silverware the Magpies have craved for the last 36 years and of overtaking Newcastle legend Jackie Milburn’s 200 goal club record.

Shearer’s decision to stay after a campaign by Souness and chairman Freddy Shepherd, aided by thousands of messages of support from fans, will give him a 10th year at his hometown club and justifies his retirement from international football in 2000.

“That was a tough decision, packing in England five years ago, but I think it has been proved the right one,” he said.

“I’m not daft enough not to realise that once you get over 30, when you have a bad game, it is because of your age, so it’s up to me to get over that.

“Those are the rules we play to in football. You cannot keep everyone happy, so you have got to go out to prove something every week.”

However, Shearer insisted he would not have reversed his decision to retire at the end of the season had he not believed he still has what it takes to do a job at the highest level.