Alan Shearer appears to be pricing himself out of the job at Newcastle United.
The Daily Mail says it's understood that Shearer in his last meeting with owner Mike Ashley asked for a £2.5million package next season, which breaks down into annual payments of £1.75m for Shearer, £500,000 for assistant Iain Dowie and £250,000 for head of performance Paul Ferris.
What has upset Shearer's representatives WMG is that the fanciful £3m-a-year being bandied about as the manager's asking price will only alienate Toon supporters at a time of so much uncertainty surrounding the ownership.
However it's now emerged that Ashley, guilty of being ultra extravagant in past Newcastle dealings, now considers the genuine wages Shearer wants as being too much for a relegated club.