Shearer would like to be boss 'one day'

Newcastle striker Alan Shearer believes he can develop as a manager by learning from the staff at St James’ Park.

The 34-year-old yesterday agreed to postpone his retirement after initially planning to finish his playing career at the end of the current campaign.

It has been suggested Shearer will eventually become Newcastle manager, and the veteran marksman will have a player-coach role at the club from next season.

Shearer wants to learn from the coaches at the club and admits he would like to be boss “one day”.

“I’ve taken the UEFA B badge and that’s the next progressive step,” Shearer said. “We have a great manager here, we’ve got very good coaches who I can learn from, and that is the aim now.

When asked if he would like to be Newcastle manager, Shearer said: “A day is a long time in football so it is too premature to say what will happen in three, four or five years time. Maybe one day, but who knows when that day will be. It might be 10 years or 20 years, I don’t know.”

Shearer is just nine goals away from equalling Jackie Milburn’s club record of 200 and fans this season had called for him to continue playing.

Shearer added: “I’ve felt really good this year and my performances have been okay. I spoke to a a lot of people and the what came back was unanimous – don’t retire.

“They felt I had a lot to offer, more importantly the manager and chairman felt I had a lot to offer. Everyone I spoke to can’t be wrong, so I thought I should go with the flow.”

Newcastle are still in the UEFA Cup and FA Cup, with a chance of lifting their first trophy since 1969.

Shearer is pleased with the club’s progress and agreed to continue playing during Newcastle’s mid-season break to Dubai.

He told BBC1: “I made my decision but I can’t retire just because I said it, I can’t be that stupid of stubborn, and I felt it was the right decision.

“The club is certainly going in the right direction and hopefully we’re in a decent position to challenge for some trophies.

“He and the chairman were badgering me every week, then got me under the influence in Dubai last week and forced me to sign.”