Alan Shearer will have more talks with Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan about a possible coaching role at the club next week but confirmed he had turned down the role of assistant manager.
The Magpies legend was one of the favourites to replace Sam Allardyce in his own right but has since been linked with a 'dream ticket' partnership with Keegan — the man who paid £15million for his services in his first stint at St James' Park.
Keegan yesterday revealed that the pair met on Thursday and decided Shearer would not be coming back as an assistant but there is still the chance he will join the club's coaching staff.
Shearer told BBC1: "We hadn't spoken for a while and we had a really good evening on Thursday. Kevin's forgotten more about management than I know and he wanted to bring me in in that role (assistant).
"But after we spoke about it we decided it wasn't right, most importantly, for the football club. We're very similar people, very opinionated and at times you might need something different in a number two.
"We will speak again in the week but it has to be right, not for me, but for the football club."
Whatever happens, though, the former England striker looks likely to become more visible at St James' Park than ever before following his retirement as a player.
"I have a role there already as an ambassador, I have that role but Kevin is keen to get me into the training ground.
"I fully understand that other managers have been in and I tried to keep my distance. But Kevin says even if I don't have any training ground (responsibilities) he wants me to come in and have lunch and even use it as a gym if I want."
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