Alan Shearer has denied claims he will return to Newcastle in a management capacity alongside Kevin Keegan.

Temporary boss Joe Kinnear suggested Shearer was set for a future role at the club, but the Mapgies legend put the record straight on the BBC.

"There is no truth in that whatsoever. I don't know where that's come from at all," Shearer told Match of the Day.

He also expressed shock at Kinnear's appointment, adding the ex-Forest boss looked "embarrassed" to be in the job.

"I was as surprised as anyone was that Joe was appointed," said the 38-year-old former England captain.

606: DEBATE Seems to me Kinnear knows what he's doing and we should actually give the man a chance nufcunfortunately

Shearer, 38, has constantly been linked with a return to Newcastle, where he scored 206 goals in 404 appearances to earn legendary status at St James' Park.

But so far he has played down talk of venturing into management with his former club.

Meanwhile, Terry Venables has told the BBC he turned down Newcastle because taking temporary charge was "not right" for him.

"I got the gist of the position, they laid it out quite clearly, and I don't think it was right for me," he said.

"If you do five or six weeks, it goes quite well, and then you leave, you'd think what was the point?"

Former England coach Venables, 65, admitted it was a "shock" to be offered the job, but said the right candidate had to be prepared to scrap at the bottom of the Premier League.

"When you're involved you have to be for the right reasons, you have to feel it as well," he said. "If you haven't got that, then you haven't got the inner strength to do it."

Venables added that owner Mike Ashley believed a buyer could be found for the club within five or six weeks.

"They said 'could be', and that's no good for me," said the former Barcelona, Tottenham and Middlesbrough manager.

Premier League clubs are being bought as toys, they'll have them for a few years then throw them away Sir John Hall Former Newcastle owner

"Joe might not be known by some of the players but the people running the club know Joe is a fighter and he'll give his best," he said.

Former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said he felt sorry for Ashley and admitted he fears the possibility of big-money foreign investors buying the club.

"When I met Mike Ashley and his advisors, they had the best intentions for the club," said Hall.

"He (Ashley) wanted to stay there and develop it, so I feel sad for him and sad for the club.

"The Premier League clubs are being bought as toys. They'll have them for a few years then throw them away, that's my view.

"These people don't know the passion of the fans. The Premier League is a tremendous brand but I fear for the game and for the fans."