Shearer: I won't take Toon reins

The Magpies are on the hunt for a new boss after sacking Chris Hughton on Monday - and Shearer has been among the names mentioned as a possible successor. But the 40-year-old, whose previous stint in charge of the club coincided with their relegation from the Premier League and ended in a falling-out with owner Mike Ashley, has ruled himself out. "I won't be the next Newcastle manager," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I can guarantee you that. "I have said never say never but I can guarantee I won't be the next Newcastle manager." Hughton's sacking with Magpies sitting a creditable 11th in the Premier League took the football world by surprise. And Shearer, in common with many others who have spoken out publicly, thinks the Newcastle hierarchy have made a misjudgment. He added: "I wonder to myself where they think Newcastle should be, if they think they should be higher than mid-table because I'm not being disrespectful to the squad but they're not going to be in the top six or seven. "That isn't Newcastle's season. Newcastle's season this year should be all about staying in the Premier League. "At this moment in time there's no danger of them (being relegated). "They'll be there because there's teams that are worse than them. "For me, Chris was doing a very, very fine job." After leaving Newcastle, Shearer claimed he was promised the job on a full-time basis by Ashley but never heard another word from him. The job eventually went to Hughton, who was not initially a popular choice but the side's performances in winning the Championship and their start to this season ensured the Geordie faithful were well and truly behind him. The club claimed they wanted someone with more experience, but Shearer told BBC Radio 5 live: "I'm one of the vast majority who thought Chris was doing an excellent job. "I'm all for experience but surely you've got to look at the job someone has actually done. "I think, with the rumours that were going around from the beginning of the season, that you just get the feeling Chris wasn't the man they wanted in charge of Newcastle - for whatever reason." Unusually, a number of senior players, including captain Kevin Nolan and former England defender Sol Campbell, have expressed their displeasure at the move. "You can understand it," said Shearer. "The vibe I've been getting from the guys I know is that they had an excellent team spirit. And you've got to say Chris has created that. "He's got some players who looked as if they were on their way out playing very, very well. "You can see there's obvious disappointment from within the dressing room that their manager and the guy that brought them back into the Premier League has left." Despite their displeasure, Shearer feels certain the players will get behind whoever the new man proves to be. "You get paid to go out and play for the club," he said. "Man management is a huge part of football these days and Chris was very good at that, but on the other hand players get paid to go out and play. "It would certainly be wrong of them now not to go out and perform like they have done for Chris."