Newcastle United have re-appointed 'Geordie Messiah' Kevin Keegan as manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce, who left St James's Park last week after brief and unsuccessful tenure.
Keegan, who led the 'Toon Army' to second place in the Premiership in 1996 during a five year stint as manager, was an outsider in the race for the position which also attracted interest from Frenchmen Gerard Houllier and Didier Deschamps.
Harry Redknapp had been first choice for owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort but he last week opted to stay at Portsmouth. That only fuelled increased speculation about possible contenders with Mark Hughes, Houllier, Deschamps and Shearer being mentioned most prominently.
The message coming out of the club was that experience was the main prerequisite - instantly making Shearer a more unlikely candidate, but some fans may still be hoping for a "dream team" of the two formere strikers. Gary Lineker feels his Match of the Day colleague would not be interested in such terms.
"I can't see Alan as a number two," Lineker said. "It was mooted he was interested in the job, I'd be very surprised if he went along on those terms."
Former chairman Sir John Hall, whose family's decision to sell their holding in the club to Ashley sparked his £134.4 million takeover bid, earlier said he felt Houllier and Shearer would be the ideal partnership.
But with Keegan surprisingly being given the task of steadying the ship and bring silky football back to the northeast, he will be keen to step into the role quickly to maximise the remainder of the transfer window.
The former Liverpool and Hamburg striker took Newcastle to promotion back to the top flight in 1993 and came close to winning the league title in the 1995-96 season when they famously led Manchester United by 12 points before finishing as runners-up.
He went on to manage Fulham, England and Manchester City but has been out of the game since leaving City in 2005 after a largely unsuccessful spell.
Former Newcastle full back Warren Barton welcomed the appointment today, saying it will make it a season to remember.
"He'll bring enthusiasm and desire, he knew what the area needed and what the fans expected," Barton told Sky Sports today. "You'd listen to his team talk and he could motivate people. People will say he's not been in the game for a few years but he's got a big personality and enthusiasm and he knows the game - that's his strongest point.
"People work hard and want to be entertained and he'll give the fans a great lift, although I hope he might be more tactically aware.
"He may have got older and greyer but he's still got great style and charisma about him.
"He might play 4-4-2 and get some service for Michael Owen and Mark Viduka - but he'll give the players a great lift.
"His man-management is a key point. He knows the area, will speak to the fans and the people up there and lift the whole club.
"There is enough quality in that squad - he just has to get the best out of the players. He needs to add and he will - he got Philippe Albert and David Ginola from nowhere."
