Shearer allegedly laid the law down to Ashley, insisting Dennis Wise go, and that he had NO interference from anyone.And we suspect that means Joe Kinnear, who insisted on Tuesday he would still have "a say in team selection".
That was BEFORE Shearer was given his job, so we take it things have changed in the pecking order.
We were shocked when Michael Owen was dropped, because Kinnear still insisted he was still making the major decisions ... yet Chris Hughton said he was responsible for putting Owen on the bench.
No wonder the players are confused! The last couple of months no-one knew who was running the show.
Alan Shearer: "It's a tough situation Newcastle are in and I feel deeply for this club.
"It's a club I love and I, just like many thousands of people, desperately don't want the club to go down and I will do everything I can to try to prevent that.
"I believe I can help it along with the players, there is a nucleus here that can get this club out of trouble.
"They are very good players lacking confidence and it's up to me and the staff to get the best out of them."