Magpies' hope

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), June 17, 2009

ALAN SHEARER could learn the timescale for his possible appointment as Newcastle manager later this week as the race to buy the club reaches a significant landmark.

Interested parties who have proved to the satisfaction of investment bankers Seymour Pierce that they have the finances to meet owner Mike Ashley's asking price will be given electronic access to the Magpies' books tomorrow.

That will effectively signal the start of a formal period of due diligence, a process which could take some time to complete.

However, managing director Derek Llambias has suggested that would not necessarily preclude Shearer's belated appointment.

Indeed, he has hinted the 38-year-old could be back at the helm within a matter of days, as long as the competing consortia agree..