Alan Shearer could have been in charge of Newcastle United 18 months ago, it has been revealed.

The Evening Chronicle has poured cold water on claims from former Toon midfielder Rob Lee that Shearer is keen to return to work with owner Mike Ashley.

Right from the off, Ashley made his mind up that Shearer does not have the experience for the job, and he has never wavered from this.

But it's been revealed that Shearer would have taken the job when Sam Allardyce was sacked in January, providing the BBC would have released him from his Match of the Day contract which still has 18 months to run.