TWTD understands that former England skipper Alan Shearer has been interviewed for the position of Town manager. The ex-striker’s only previous managerial experience was eight games as boss at Newcastle United at the end of the 2008/09 season.
The Magpies legend, who like Town owner Marcus Evans has been in Barbados this week, couldn’t prevent his already-relegation-haunted club from dropping into the Championship, managing only one win and two draws during his time in charge. He left that summer and was replaced by Chris Hughton.
Since that spell Shearer, 42, has been linked with various jobs, including the currently vacant position at Blackburn Rovers, while working as a pundit on Match of the Day
Capped 63 times by England, scoring 30 goals, Shearer was reported to have been a potential Town target when Roy Keane left the club 21 months ago.
Earlier today, Blues striker Michael Chopra, a one-time team-mate of Shearer’s at Newcastle, said he’d very much like to see him at Portman Road: "I would love to see Alan Shearer as manager. Such a good person and worked and played under some great managers, including Sir Bobby Robson.”
However, despite Shearer's undoubted profile and experience of playing the game at the highest level, comments made by chief executive Simon Clegg at last night’s Supporters Club AGM hinted that a man more experienced in management would be the club’s preferred choice: "This is not going to be a high-risk appointment.
"We need to have someone that we’ve got confidence in, who has got the necessary experience and skill-base to get us out of this current hole and get us to where we want to go in the long run.”
The Blues are likely to interview a significant number of candidates with Simon Clegg having indicated a great deal of interest in the job vacated by Paul Jewell on Wednesday.