Exclusive by John May BBC Sport Online

The man who moulded Alan Shearer says he has all the tools to move into the Newcastle hotseat when Sir Bobby Robson decides to vacate it.

Dave Merrington, Shearer's youth team coach at Southampton, reckons the former England striker can make a smooth transition from playing to managing.

Merrington told BBC Sport Online: "I think he has wonderful potential to be a manager.

"The ingredients are already set there for him.

"What he needs to do now is to be fast-tracked in terms of understanding that playing and coaching are totally different.

"If he gets the right people around him then I think he has all the ingredients to be an excellent manager.

"Plus, his status at Newcastle would give him a head start with the fans."

Merrington was once in charge of a Southampton youth team that contained Shearer, Matthew Le Tissier and Rodney Wallace.

It is no coincidence that, of those, Shearer has prolonged his career at the top the longest.

Merrington said: "You can never tell how young players are going to develop.

"Some find their level and stand still. Some move on to another level and a few like Alan Shearer move on to the top level.

"Alan had a very strong character and is very single-minded.

"He knew exactly what he was looking for and where he was going."

It was Shearer's football education at Southampton under Merrington, a fiery, passionate Geordie himself, that equipped him with formidable mental tools.

They certainly proved too much for Ruud Gullit, who found that St James' Park was not big enough for both of them.

Shearer was accused of being the driving force behind Gullit's removal and Merrington admits: "I think there would be an obvious clash between Ruud Gullit and Alan.

"One of the things I tried to develop with the Southampton youngsters was for them to never be afraid to go into the dressing-room and express themselves.