Alan Shearer insists everyone
connected with Newcastle must continue to focus on the club's
battle against relegation from the Premier
League.
The Magpies have dominated the sporting agenda since Tuesday
evening when Sky Sports News revealed that Shearer would
be returning to St James' Park.
The club's all-time leading goalscorer has taken the helm for
the final eight games of the season with Joe Kinnear continuing his
recovery from major heart surgery.
Newcastle are currently in the bottom three of the Premier
League, two points from safety, and with the shadow of relegation
spreading across the North East.
And Shearer, who will give his first press conference live on
Sky Sports News from 2.30pm, does not want the excitement
over his appointment to distract anyone from their parlous
position.
"I have to clarify straight away that I don't want this to be
about me, it's about this football club," he told the club's
official website.
"I was asked to see if I could help them stay in this division
and that's why I'm here - I love the football club.
"It's a difficult situation we're in but I believe we can do it.
We've got a set of players here who, at the minute, are low on
confidence and that's my job to try and change that.
"It's not ideal, we have got injuries, but I promise you one
thing, we'll give it a good go. I know quite of few of the players
well already and that will be a help.
"But I'll be looking to all of those players and the rest of
them to pick this club up, move it forward and get us the results
to keep us in the division."
Shearer, who has no managerial experience, has brought former
Crystal Palace, Charlton, Coventry, Oldham and QPR boss Iain Dowie
in as his assistant and admits the knowledge of his No.2 will be
vital.
He said: "I do go into it very inexperienced but I've got Iain
Dowie next to me who will play a huge part.
"He has been a manager before and has been in this position
before which I think will be invaluable to us.
"He's a very good coach and the players will like him. It's a
big job but we're looking forward to getting started."
Shearer's short-term appointment begins with Saturday's testing
home meeting against Chelsea and he has urged his new charges to
only focus on the future.
He added: "There are some very, very good players here at this
football club. But, for whatever reason, they haven't really shown
that.
"It's been a difficult season but I'm not really bothered what's
gone on in the past. I'm only bothered about the next eight games,
starting with Chelsea on Saturday.
"And I'll be telling the players that, 'Look, forget about
what's gone on. We're in the position we're in because results
haven't gone our way for whatever reason, be it injuries, form or
confidence. That doesn't matter, we start on Saturday'."
