NEWCASTLE United fans are in raptures about the return to St James Park of former goalscoring legend Alan Shearer.But wouldn't they be better off with Needham Market manager Danny Laws trying to lead them away from relegation from the Premier League?It may sound far fetched to link a Ridgeons League manager with taking over the hot seat of one of the world's most passionately supported clubs with gates of over 50,000.

Elvin King

NEWCASTLE United fans are in raptures about the return to St James Park of former goalscoring legend Alan Shearer.

But wouldn't they be better off with Needham Market manager Danny Laws trying to lead them away from relegation from the Premier League?

It may sound far fetched to link a Ridgeons League manager with taking over the hot seat of one of the world's most passionately supported clubs with gates of over 50,000.

But no more far fetched surely than asking a man with no managerial credentials to do the job.

Shearer may be able to puff out a few chests in the dressing room before games, but has he the tactical awareness, the necessary man-management skills and the 'balls' to become a hit in the hot seat.

Time will tell, but I doubt it and the failed managerial careers of Bobby Charlton, Jackie Milburn, Bobby Moore and many more are testament to that.

In comparison Laws has led Needham to considerable success after learning his trade at West Suffolk College and Norwich City before taking over at Bloomfields where he has instilled a highly professional approach.

It would be a huge jump - and there would be great big player egos to deal with - but Laws would be my bet ahead of Shearer to lead Newcastle to survival.

All he needs is the chance.

Needham chairman David Bugg knows a good man when he sees one, and he quickly pointed out: “Danny has two years left on his contract with us.

“We know we are lucky to have him, and as soon as I saw his name on the application list I knew he was the one.”

Bugg took over as chairman just before an appointment was made to replace Mark Morsley, who had moved on to AFC Sudbury.

“We have got on well from that moment, and Danny and I have a good understanding,” added Bugg, who was previously chairman at Ipswich Wanderers.

“Needham fans should be pinching themselves.

“When he arrived Danny had one first team player after many left to follow Mark.

“He soon built a new team and did okay in the first season.

“The acid test was the second season, yet we just missed out on the league title, reached the semi-final of the FA Vase and won the Ridgeons League and Suffolk Premier Cups.

“And this season we have continued to make progress losing on penalties to Chalfont St Peter in the Vase quarter-final - the worst feeling in my football life as I could see we were the better side.”