A security consultant has come forward to admit he performed surveillance at Newcastle United.

The News of the World says Brian Tough was ordered to TAP PHONES of unhappy managers and players-and even take SECRET FILM of England legend Alan Shearer that could be used against him if he tried to leave the club.

Tough revealed how he bugged:

• Kevin Keegan's calls to his wife to see if he was planning to quit as manager
• Sunderland's chairman Bob Murray - to find out secret plans for their new stadium
• The Editor of a local newspaper because he'd run knocking stories on the club, and even
• The butler of 74-year-old Newcastle president Sir John Hall.
• Paid to wreck a supporters' campaign to stop the club taking 4,000 seats away from them for rich clients.

In a shattering confession, Tough says: "At times I felt really bad about it, especially when I spied on our own players and senior staff. The players and fans would have gone mad if they had found out what I was up to."

On filming Shearer, Tough revealed: "I was told to get him on tape talking about his future. If I had him on video expressing his loyalty to the club, it could become useful to embarrass him in case he decided to leave.

"I still remember the video. Shearer was wearing blue jeans, a beige polo neck sweater and Timberland boots. He told Shepherd, 'I'm not going anywhere'."

Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "Tough did make me aware of what he had done but I did not condone it.

"I couldn't control what he did. He didn't work for me. I had nothing to do with bugging anybody."