A NEW MESSIAH?

With the club in grave danger of going down, a Geordie legend comes to the rescue.

Alan Shearer, the club's all-time leading goal-scorer during a 10-year playing stint, is installed as manager on 1 April, but only until the end of the season. He names Iain Dowie as his assistant.

"It's a club I love and I don't want them to go down. I'll do everything I can to stop that," he told BBC Sport.