Shearer would be ‘absolutely amazed’ if Benitez stays

Oli Fisher
Alan Shearer: Demolishes Newcastle with rant

Alan Shearer: Demolishes Newcastle with rant

Alan Shearer has slammed the current situation at Newcastle as they head towards the second flight of English football.

Shearer insisted that Rafael Benitez is not responsible for the current problems at the club, and that the Spaniard cannot be expected to manage in the Championship.

“If they are relegated, you can’t attach any blame to Rafa,” Shearer wrote about his former club in his column in The Sun.

“But the saddest thing now is that the club will probably lose him.

“I will be absolutely amazed if the former manager of Real Madrid, the former manager of Liverpool who won the Champions League, were to be at Newcastle in the Championship and managing at places like Rotherham.

“I hope I am wrong. I would love him to stay. But I am sure he will have offers left, right and centre from clubs in the Premier League and all around Europe.”

Looking ahead to next season, the former Southampton and Blackburn striker admitted it would not be easy for the Magpies to return to the Premier League.

“At this stage, it is too difficult to say how Newcastle would fare next season if they are in the Championship,” Shearer continued.

“Ask me again when I know who the manager is and what players they have.

“Unfortunately, the current squad needs ripping up because recruitment has not been good enough for some time.

“And also, where are our kids coming through? Paul Dummett is the only one in there at the moment. We have a football hotbed here in the North East, yet we don’t seem to be producing any talent.

“That is just one of the many questions the club will have to ponder over the summer.”