Shearer declines Blackburn chance

Alan Shearer has told BBC Sport he has declined the offer to be placed on the shortlist of candidates for the managerial vacancy at Blackburn Rovers.

"The situation is that I was very flattered to get a call off of Blackburn's chief executive John Williams," said the 37-year-old.

"He asked me if I wanted to be included on a shortlist for the manager's job, which I politely declined."

Shearer had been among the favourites to replace Mark Hughes at Ewood Park.

Hughes was appointed Manchester City manger on 5 June after four years at Blackburn.

And Shearer, who scored 112 goals for Rovers between 1992-96 and helped them to the Premier League title in '95, was immediately linked with the position.

606: DEBATE
"I can honestly say I never wanted Shearer as our manager - I just don't think he has what it takes"
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He was even reported to have told Mike Newell, his former Rovers strike partner and Tommy Craig, the former Newcastle coach, that he would appoint them to his backroom staff if and when he became manager.

At half time in the Euro 2008 clash between Switzerland and Turkey, on which Shearer was working as a BBC Sport pundit, the former England captain said he had "a lot of commitments, namely this one.

"I'm very flattered to have been asked and I'm thankful for that. (Williams) has made two great decision for the last two managers (Hughes and Graeme Souness) and I'm sure he'll go on and make a third one and I wished him good luck."

English names still said to be in contention for the job include Paul Ince, Stuart Pearce, Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren.

Overseas contenders are reported to include Roberto Mancini, Michael Laudrup, Dick Advocaat, and both Avram Grant and Henk ten Cate, who worked together at Chelsea last season.

Shearer has been frequently questioned about his managerial aspirations since retiring as a player in 2006, particularly in relation to his home town club Newcastle United.

In February, when linked with the vacancy at his first league club, Southampton, he told BBC Radio Solent that he would be "very busy for the next six or seven months" with his BBC commitments, charity work, and work towards his Uefa Pro Licence.

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