Alan Shearer is believed to have spent time with new CEO David Hopkinson
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer(Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle United have made moves to enhance their relationship with Alan Shearer even further - after the club legend spent an afternoon with new CEO David Hopkinson.
The new Toon supremo arrived at St James' Park earlier this month and impressed staff and fans with his fresh approach at St James' Park.
Shearer's love for the club has never been in question, but his relationship with former owner Mike Ashley was put under immense strain before the takeover.
Ashley brutally changed the name of the supporter's bar from Shearer's to Nine and refused to allow a statue of the ex-England skipper to be erected on club premises.
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Both of those decisions were quickly reversed by former director Amanda Staveley as the club looked to gain easy wins with the fans shortly after the Saudi-takeover in 2021.
Before the statue was moved outside club offices, Shearer told Sky Sports: "It’s not on the club’s grounds. It’s about 10 yards outside of the club for whatever reason. Ask Mike, my friend Mike, ask Mike why he wouldn’t, or Lee Charnley, why they wouldn’t allow it inside the ground."
Staveley said then: "I've texted with Alan (Shearer) a lot, and Kevin (Keegan). They're heroes. I'm so excited to be able to sit down with Alan - I hope he gets involved because it's his club and it's so important.
"Yeah, there was a bar at that end, Gallowgate end, named after me, but soon after when Mike came in that went to number Nine bar and not Shearer's anymore. It wasn’t my bar, it was just in my name. I never got any proceeds from it, unfortunately."
Those days are thankfully behind Shearer and United now, with Newcastle making sure the former £15m signing was one of the first names on the guest list for the Carabao Cup parade earlier this year, with the 206 goal striker introduced to 300,000 fans and describing the trophy win as: "One of the best times of my life".
The Match of the Day pundit has been a frequent visitor back to Newcastle in his role as broadcast pundit and as a general fan since Ashley left the building four years ago.
Newcastle are looking to ensure the club's former stars are welcomed back at St James', and United paid to jet Tino Asprilla from Colombia for the Champions League clash against Barcelona.
Since the takeover the likes of Rob Lee, Micky Quinn, David Kelly, Brian Kilcline and Steve Watson have all been regular guests at St James' with Newcastle keen to ensure that significant names of the past are looked after.
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