Nicky Butt: “I think we were all set up and we all thought it was going to roll into a new era under Alan. It was all worked out.
“The training regimes for the summer were drawn up by Alan and we were sent away with them by him and his staff. When we came back nothing was happening.
“Fair play to Chris and Colin Calderwood, they adjusted very well at what was a late stage.
“We still managed to get a good pre-season under our belts. The fitness is there, and now the belief is there.
“Although everybody was upbeat when Alan Shearer came in and thought it was a new era, Colin and Chris have taken over the mantle and probably deserve the job now.
“I think they deserve the job.
“I wish somebody would come out and say to Chris ‘you are the manager.’
“It would put everything else to bed.
“We still do not have a manager because he has not been named.
“Somebody should say to him it is his job until told otherwise.”