Shearer - Keegan Was Right To Get Away From Ashley's Mess!

"Until it is actually gone the club will struggle to go forward. I hope it happens soon because they need to get through to January and get players. They have to try and consolidate.

"I have huge respect for Joe Kinnear and good luck to him. No one would have turned that job down in his position. But the longer the club is standing still, and no one knows what the future holds, the harder it will be to attract players.

"It is possible Joe could still be here in January, but no player will want to come here while everything is up in the air. You can't expect a player to sign a three or four year contract while everything is so uncertain.

"If it is right what has been reported and players were bought without his knowledge, he (Keegan) was right to do what he did. That seems to be an ongoing trend in our league, that other people apart from the manager are running the football club.

"The least a manager asks is to run the football side of his club. It is his neck on the line. He is the one who has to have the say on whether players come in or go out, otherwise what is the point?

"In those circumstances Kevin was right to do what he did. If you are appointed as manager and someone is appointed above you, you are right to ask questions. Personally I don't think that system works in our league.

"It is the same with the players who have contracts running out. You have to look at it and say it is so unstable at the present moment you can't blame them for looking elsewhere if their contracts are running out.

"Everyone knows I have done part of my coaching badges. I have not done the Pro licence yet which is mandatory, but I will do it at some stage in the future. Management interests me at some stage of my career.

"I am watching football matches every weekend so in that sense I am still in the game. I can't say where it might happen and I can't say it would be here."