Premiership: Shearer as future Toon boss - Shepherd

Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd wants Alan Shearer to one day sit in the manager's chair at St James' Park.

Shepherd backed manager Bobby Robson to steer United back to the glory days and praised the veteran coach for the job he has done on Tyneside.

But he added: "One day, I'd love to see Alan Shearer as manager of Newcastle. I think he's got everything it takes to be a good manager, but a lot of top players aren't good managers."

Former England boss Robson - who took over at St James' Park two years ago this month - has guided the Geordies to a promising start the Barclaycard Premiership season.

Speaking on Radio Five Live's SportWeek show, Shepherd said: "I think we've got the strongest squad since Kevin left. Bobby came in (after Ruud Gullit) and had to stabilise the position.

"In the first year, he definitely saved the relegation position. In the second, he rooted out players he didn't want, and in the third he got us on track.

"Bobby's got a 12-month rolling contract - and Bobby will go when he wants to go. Every day he wakes up, he's got another 12 months in front of him.

"Bobby will do what's best for him, the club and his family. One of the reasons we gave him a 12-month contract was to stop people saying 'he's got three months left' or 'he's got four months left'. As far as I'm concerned, he's got 12 months left."

Shearer, also speaking on this morning's programme, claimed it was "disrespectful" for the media to suggest he will be Robson's successor sooner rather than later.

"There have been no discussions or talks," he said. "I think it's a bit disrespectful to Bobby Robson that people keep on talking about me as manager of Newcastle.

"I'd like to stay in the game in some capacity, but I'm certainly not taking any coaching badges. I want to concentrate on playing for as long as I can.

"I've got three years left on my contract and would dearly love to see that out, keeping playing at the top level.

"I'd like to finish off at the top - I don't think I'm one of these players who will still be playing at 36."