Lee would rule out Shearer

Shearer has been touted as a possible replacement for Chris Hughton in some quarters and was being quoted as a 20/1 outsider by bookmakers Ladbrokes on Tuesday morning. The club's record goalscorer had a brief eight-game spell at the helm as the Magpies slipped out of the Premier League two seasons ago and despite holding detailed talks with owner Mike Ashley in the immediate aftermath of relegation, was not appointed on a permanent basis. With Newcastle insisting they are looking for an experienced manager this time around, the 40-year-old seems an unlikely candidate, and Lee is not expecting the call to come. He told Sky Sports News: "Nothing surprises me in football, but that would. "I think he would love to do it, I think he would still love to be involved in football management. "But when they have come out with the statement they want experience, it's probably the only thing he hasn't got." Alan Pardew is currently the bookies' favourite with Martin Jol, Martin O'Neill and Alan Curbishley in close attendance. O'Neill would get Lee's vote, but he fears the financial constraints under which Hughton had to work would not suit him. He said: "Martin O'Neill, for me, would be a great appointment, but at Aston Villa he had a bit of a bust-up with his chairman because he didn't get enough money to spend - and I think he gave him £100million. "Would he come and manage Newcastle with no money? I don't think so. "His track record at Leicester and Celtic and even at Aston Villa was brilliant, so I would have thought the fans would be very pleased with him. "But in my opinion, I can't see him coming to Newcastle without any money. If he is promised a lot of money to spend on the club, then maybe it would be a different scenario." In the meantime, Lee's former team-mate Peter Beardsley has been put in charge of team affairs, and while Hughton's departure has stunned the dressing room, the former Charlton midfielder is convinced the players will simply get on with their jobs. He said: "It affects you for a little while. I remember we had the same scenario when Kevin [Keegan] left. "We didn't see Kevin leaving for the first time, it just came totally out of the blue after an FA Cup game. The players are all brought together and told what's happening as quickly as possible. "Yes, training will probably be a bit sombre this morning, but players get over it very, very quickly and if someone comes in and gets the place buzzing again and they get a couple of wins, then unfortunately that's football. "Players forget very, very easily."