Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp believes Alan Shearer is the ideal candidate to become the next Newcastle manager.
"I'd give Shearer the job. I think he's perfect for it," said Redknapp, who on Saturday rejected the chance to replace Sam Allardyce at St James' Park.
"He'd set the place alight and the fans love him. Experience doesn't matter - he understands football," he added.
Meanwhile, Blackburn say they "have had no contact from Newcastle whatsoever" about their boss Mark Hughes.
The comments came from Rovers chairman John Williams but Hughes refused to rule himself out, saying: "In football, you can never say never."
Hughes, who is now the bookies' favourite, was asked after his side's 2-1 win at Bolton on Sunday whether he would be staying at Blackburn.
He said: "That's a hypothetical question, and I don't answer hypothetical questions.
"You could bring a couple of experienced people in alongside him and it wouldn't be a problem for him"
"I have support from the chairman (John Williams) and the board. That is something you do not give up lightly.
"The fact is I have continuity here and a good situation. Things are in place and I am very conscious of that.
"I am not into self-promotion but speculation has surrounded me in the past. But I am still Blackburn manager and have a job to do here.
"In football you need time and I have been given that."
Redknapp, however, did rule out any chance of him joining Newcastle should the club renew their interest.
606: DEBATE
"No, not a prayer, I couldn't do that," said Redknapp after Portsmouth's 2-0 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday.
"I said I'm going to stay at Portsmouth. I wouldn't be able to show my face again, I'd be finished.
"I made a decision and that's it. I'm here and I'll stick with it and get on with my job at Portsmouth now."
Earlier on Sunday, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie echoed Redknapp's sentiments and said Newcastle would be wasting their time if they came back in for the 60-year-old.
"Harry has made his decision and that is the end of the matter," Storrie told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Redknapp met representatives from Newcastle on Friday but decided that a move to the North East was not right for him.
"I'm happy here, people treat me well and I felt a loyalty to the club and the fans," he said.
"I came to the conclusion that the extra money would not change my life and it would have been a big upheaval for Sandra (his wife) and I didn't want to do that.
"She is more important to me than anything."
And Redknapp endorsed the view that Shearer, alongside a more experienced figure, could be the answer for the Magpies.
"We're kidding ourselves that experience is what is needed," he added. "(Sunderland manager) Roy Keane had no experience but he knows what he's doing. He's different class.
"I listen to Roy, I watch him and there's only one place he's going and that is right to the top. I don't see why Alan can't do that.
"Alan is the most dedicated professional I have ever met... but he would want to come in at the right time, and now is probably too early"
"He would just need to bring a couple of experienced people in alongside him. It wouldn't be a problem for him.
"Because of what he means to the place and what the fans think of him and what a player he's been, he'd be absolutely perfect."
But life president and former Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall told 5 Live's Sportsweek programme that a Keegan-Shearer combination would not be right for the club.
"Alan is the most dedicated professional I have ever met and a great man. But he would want to come in at the right time, and now is probably too early," he said.
"Kevin has had his time and I don't think he and his family would want to return."
Hall also backed new owner Mike Ashley to turn things around at Newcastle and reward the St James' Park faithful.
"Mike Ashley is dedicated to the club, he has just come in and he is learning the game and it takes time," he said.
"But he is a good businessman and I think he will do well at Newcastle.
"We want attractive football, the fans deserve success, but we need continuity to succeed."
Former England manager Steve McClaren is another who feels that the time is not right for Shearer to become Newcastle manager.
"You do need some experience otherwise you are learning on the job," he said.
"I am a big advocate of getting your coaching qualifications and then serving your apprenticeships and learning the job at a lower level."
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~12~RS~)