Toon Army soap opera lurches from the sublime to the ridiculous!

Alan Shearer could return as Newcastle manager as early as next week — but only if owner Mike Ashley is willing to accept a £70million offer for the club from Geordie businessman Barry Moat.

Shearer said: ‘If someone comes in and buys the football club and wants me as manager and everything is right, and they want to get the club back up to the Premier League, then I would dearly love the chance to finish what I started last season. Other than that, you have to believe me when I say I don’t know anything.’ (Mail on Sunday)

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is reconsidering his decision to sell the club and may opt to remain at St James’ Park, BBC Radio 5 live understands.

It is also believed that Ashley will move to appoint David O’Leary as manager if he remains at the Magpies.
Ashley put the club up for sale in May following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
“My understanding is that there will be developments at Newcastle this week,” says 5 live’s Garry Richardson.
“It could result in Mike Ashley deciding not to sell Newcastle if he can’t find a buyer at the right price. He might decide to cut his losses and stay as chairman.

“If Mike Ashley stays it could lead to him approaching David O’Leary to be the manager. As always with Newcastle it’s ifs and buts but certainly as things stand this morning, it could be David O’Leary and Mike Ashley could be staying.” (BBC Sport)

So there you have it. The idea of David O’Leary coming to the club may not fill Newcastle United fans with delight, especially as it would mean that Mike Ashley is still very much still involved at the club which in itself is something that not one supporter of the club wanted.

Clearly Alan Shearer will not return to the managerial post with Odious and Obese at the helm and one can only hope that Ashley does the honourable thing and take whatever offer he is given for the club he has run into the ground, but given the owner’s record of dishonourable conduct, do not expect him to simply sell up and leave.

O’Leary has a decent record as a boss but is obviously linked with the demise of another once grand name in the game, Leeds United. His boom and bust spending at the behest of Peter Risdale has ominious similarities to the Toon Army’s fate but whether the Irishman can be held totally responsible is another matter, he is also the purveyor of a brand of football that isn’t exactly graceful and contrary to popular belief that kind of football isn’t the best way to get out of the Championship which has improved immeasurably in terms of quality in the past few years.

Some sources had claimed that the former Arsenal defender had already turned down an offer for the St James’ Park hotseat but those reports could have been wishful thinking as he appears to be interested in a return to management after three years out of the game.

I think one thing all parties will agree is that something needs to be sorted sooner rather than later as any sustained period of uncertainty will greatly scupper plans for a bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Don’t forget to check out Online Football Manager!