Llambias rejects Shearer criticism over Carroll sale

Newcastle manager director Derek Llambias has hit back at Alan Shearer over his criticism of Andy Carroll’s sale to Liverpool, claiming he does not care what the club’s record goalscorer and former manager has to say.

Former star striker Shearer found the £35m departure of star striker Carroll on Monday “staggering” given they had brought nobody in to replace the 22-year-old, and after reassurances he would not be sold.

But Llambias said in The Sun: “Do I care what Alan Shearer has to say?

“When he ran this football club [in 2009] we were relegated after picking up just five points from his eight games in charge.”

Shearer called for the money received for Carroll – a British record transfer fee that was quickly broken when the Merseysiders sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea for a fee believed to be around £50m – to be reinvested in players in the summer.

But Llambias insisted: “[Owner] Mike Ashley has only ever put money into this football club. He has never taken a single penny out.

“And he won’t take a single penny of this £35m either – all the money will go to the club and we are already working on identifying transfer targets for the summer.”