Can Shearer Lift Gloom from Toon?

It's the breaking news that could easily be mistaken for an early April Fool's joke; Alan Shearer has been appointed the Newcastle manager until the end of the season, with the punchline surely to follow

A true legend alongside the likes of MacDonald and Beardsley, Shearer's task will be to ensure the north-east giants do not fall through the Premier League trap door, and into the Championship.

Make no bones about it, Championship football for Newcastle United next season could prove disastrous. The current astronomic wage bill headed by the likes of Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen and the loss of a lucrative TV deal could cripple the club financially. Leeds United, Southampton and Charlton are just three clubs who can testify to that!

But whilst the Geordie nation will no doubt celebrate his long awaited arrival into the St.James' hot seat, much like they did the return of Kevin Keegan (and that didn't exactly go to plan), attention must be cast on his empty managerial CV. Since King Kev's departure there would not be a more popular choice on the terraces than Shearer, but can the man who scored over 140 goals for the Magpies win matches from the touchline just like he used to so often on the pitch?

With just eight remaining league games left, it won't take long before that question is answered.

You only have to look 30 miles down the road at Middlesbrough to discover great ex-players can't always transform their club's fortunes right away. At any other club Gareth Southgate might not still be in a job; but ultimately Steve Gibson's loyalty to his young manager could end up in tears. Roy Keane too at Sunderland left the club staring relegation in the face, but at least left at a time which allowed a new manager to save them. Shearer doesn't have the time that his ex-professional colleagues were afforded. Shearer has just under two months to save his club and his own hero status.

With Chelsea next at home, and tricky fixtures to come away at Liverpool and Tottenham, Shearer will need to get his team firing on all cylinders. It could all come down to the final day at Aston Villa as to whether Newcastle will retain their status as a Premier League club, and Shearer's status as an infallible Toon hero. But Shearer knows more than anyone what is on the line and what he's got himself into. His situation is black and white; Premier League survival, or Championship tragedy.