Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that Magpies legend Alan Shearer turned down the opportunity to join the coaching staff at St James’ Park.
61-year-old Kinnear, who took over at the Toon after Kevin Keegan resigned in September had said last week that the door was “always open” for Shearer to return to Newcastle. However, Kinnear has now revealed that the former England International felt he was not ready to step into a coaching role at the North East club.
“[Shearer] said it was a very kind offer but wasn't ready for it yet, and I said,'That's fine',” Kinnear said.
Kinnear has just signed a six-month extension to his original short-term deal at the Magpies and has now suggested that he could bring someone else in on the coaching side at Newcastle.
Kinnear added: “There's a possibility I might bring someone else in on the coaching front now.”
Shearer spent over 10 years at St James’ Park, scoring 206 goals in 404 appearances during his time with Newcastle. The former Blackburn Rovers and Southampton player had stated in September that he would like to manage in the Premier League one day, but Kinnear is unconcerned at the striker being continually linked with the manager’s job at Newcastle, saying that it is never likely to go away.
“I said he would be welcome to come in any time to give the place a lift and work with our strikers,” he said.
“It was very honourable of Alan. Speculation linking him with the job is never going to go away and we're both aware of that.
“I told him he's more than welcome here and there's not a problem, there's no aggravation between us.”
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