Glenn Roeder has been confirmed as full-time manager of Newcastle on a permanent basis. The former West Ham boss has been awarded a two-year contract.
The club decided to appoint Roeder after a successful spell in charge as caretaker boss following the departure of Graeme Souness. Roeder does not have the required Uefa Pro Licence but a vote of Premier League chairmen cleared the way for his appointment.
Roeder told the club's official website, www.nufc.co.uk: "It's hard to describe how I feel at the moment. I know all about this club, having played here for almost six years and having captained the club.
"I'm an extremely lucky person to have been given this opportunity, and it is an opportunity I want to take."
Chairman Freddy Shepherd also confirmed today that striker Alan Shearer, who retired at the end of the season, will act as sporting ambassador for the club.
Shepherd took the opportunity to criticise League Managers' Association chief executive John Barnwell for questioning the decision to grant Roeder special dispensation.
Shepherd used the press conference to express his disgust at Barnwell's reservations about the 50-year-old landing the job.
The LMA chief last week declared himself "absolutely furious" that Premier League chairmen had supported Roeder's appointment even though the former Magpies defender has yet to obtain a Uefa Pro Licence, which is the entry requirement at Premiership level.
Barnwell said: "The Uefa Pro Licence stops those people who make the appointments from appointing the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker. But prospective managers are now looking at it and thinking, 'If I want to manage in the top league, I don't need to bother to get qualifications, do I? What am I bothering for?"'
Shepherd said at the unveiling of Roeder at today's press conference: "I think it's a disgrace he said that - and shame
on him. For a union leader to try to stop someone getting a job I think is incredible - I can't believe he said this remark."
Roeder, who had previously enrolled on such a course during his time at West Ham but could not complete it after undergoing neuro-surgery, was more diplomatic.
He added: "Just for today I don't think it's about the LMA - it's about the future of Newcastle. I'll talk about the LMA some other time, maybe."
Barnwell last week had insisted it was not a personal matter as he said: "It's not about Glenn Roeder. He's been on a minimum wage as an academy director. He's had three years to get his qualifications and suddenly because of circumstances he's been jettisoned into the job and quite likes it.
"Results have started coming, as they often do with a caretaker manager, and I suppose it's very easy to give him a massive contract. To go from not a lot of money to a lot of money, good luck to him.
"His name is being used and Newcastle are using that as a vehicle and we're not. People have forgotten the same thing happened with Eddie Gray at Leeds, and Steve Wigley at Southampton and here we are, still in the same position.
"Why have regulations? When the lights are red you shouldn't go through them."
