ALAN SHEARER has been asked to front a £250million takeover bid for his beloved Newcastle.

The Toon legend has been approached by a consortium of businessmen based in the North-East who want to buy out the club's billionaire owner Mike Ashley.

And the former Magpies skipper (right) has admitted he is ‘intrigued' by the offer.

A Tyneside source close to the talks said: "Alan has been contacted by a group who want to try and buy Newcastle. They're from the North-East and he knows some of the people who are involved.

"He certainly knows they are capable of raising the cash to put a very good offer to Mike Ashley.

"What they want from Alan is not his money but his support, his blessing. The man is a living legend on Tyneside so to have him on board, even just as a figurehead for the bid, would be a massive boost. It would also be welcomed by the fans who'd love to see Alan in some role at the club.

"It is certainly a fascinating proposition for him but he is refusing to rush any decision.

"He wants to have a good think about it before giving any answer."

The would-be buyers have been energised into action after the recent turmoil at the club.

A shaky start to the season cost manager Sam Allardyce his job and the return of Kevin Keegan has failed to halt the Toon's alarming slide down the Premier League. A relegation battle looms unless results dramatically improve.

Keegan had wanted Shearer to become part of his backroom team but the former Toon captain's television commitments prevented that.

Ashley insists he does not want to sell and is adamant he will turn the club around.

The Newcastle owner has recently recruited millionaire property whizzkid Tony Jimenez to the board and brought in ex-Leeds manager Dennis Wise as executive director of football to work alongside Keegan in recruiting new players for the club.It's all part of Ashley and chairman Chris Mort's re-organisation of the club's structure.


Will the Magpie Land "cheers""woohoo"

Shearer is not soft, don't think he wanted to be assosciated with KK.

He his just silently waiting in the wings.

I think he his waiting till the club is on the up, he does not want to be tainted with anything to do with failure

Something has got to happen with that club, the supporters must be tearing their hair out

aye - i look like andy johnson now "roll"

no chance of keegan getting the sack "scouse2"

Could be worse"woohoo"