Up or down, Shearer’s ready to stay on

May 24 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

But the former Magpies skipper made it clear that he believes the job of reviving Newcastle’s flagging fortunes requires big money.

“The financial side is not important today but it will be on Monday morning,” Shearer added.

“Whoever is in charge, investment needs to be there. That is another issue to be talked about with whoever is in charge next season.

“I am sure that will be talked about next week. I will have a meeting with Mike, and will see what is best for the club.”

However, while Shearer admits major funds are required to reshape Newcastle’s first-team squad, he insisted that change must take place at the bottom as well as the top.

“Whoever is in charge of this club has to get the best youngsters to this football club,” he said. “Not Sunderland, not Middlesbrough. They must come here.

“I turned down Newcastle for Southampton as a 15-year-old kid, but I would hate guys to be turning Newcastle down now to go to other clubs and I don’t think they should be.

“I’d love players of all ages to want to play for this football club.

“It is a fantastic football club. Yes, huge mistakes have been made. But we have one last chance to rectify that.

“Then, hopefully, those mistakes will never be made again.”