Alan Shearer has not given up entirely on his dream of becoming Newcastle's permanent manager.

Shearer set out his blueprint for the club's future at a meeting with owner Mike Ashley in the immediate aftermath of relegation from the Barclays Premier League at the end of last season.

But the sportswear magnate, who at one point described his decision to install the former Magpies skipper for the final eight games of a disastrous campaign as the best he had made during his tenure, then decided to put the club up for sale for the second time.

Almost five months on, Newcastle are still on the market - for now, at least - and Chris Hughton is making a more than impressive fist of running things on the pitch in his third spell as caretaker boss.

But while Shearer seems as far away as ever from being appointed - several of the consortia who have entered negotiations to buy the club have indicated he is their choice - he has not lost all hope.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I can't revolve my life around that any more because I have other things going on.

"If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, it doesn't.

"Listen, that's [the blueprint] all gone now. Whatever has happened has happened.

"If anything else happens, then it does. I will just get on with it.

"For now, good luck to whoever is doing the job - and at the moment, Chris Hughton is doing a great job.

"They have had a great start to the season. Without any doubt, everybody would have taken the position they are in now, so if they can build on that, then it will be great."