''Alan is being lined up as the next manager of the club" said a club insider.
''The chairman has said all along he wants another Geordie after Bobby and now that he has his qualifications Alan would be able to take over straight away.
''If it is a bad season, Alan could even take over sooner than expected. But what is for sure is that the chairman does not want him to leave and sees him having a big future at St James' Park.''
Shearer has been quick to deny any rumours of a move away from St. James' Park, the latest being an alledged swap deal involving Southampton's James Beattie, who many see as a replacement for Shearer.
A mooted £5 million deal appears to be fabrication, but the deal for Patrick Kluivert looks to be alive after his agent Paul Foortse was reported to be in Toon. When chairman Freddie Shepherd returns from the Far East, personal terms will be discussed.
"Yes, I have been to Newcastle this week and was impressed by what I saw," said Foortse. "There is a willingness from both parties to come to an agreement.
"Patrick won't make crazy wage demands.
"Newcastle is the club he wants to join and we haven't asked for anything from them yet - not a single penny - so it is ludicrous to suggest we are holding them to ransom."
"There is other interest in him, in England and elsewhere, but if he has a choice it is simple: he will choose Newcastle."