Soccer-Bleak day for Newcastle as Shearer rescue bid fails

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - Alan Shearer scored a record 206 goals for Newcastle United but stood helpless on Sunday as his home town club were relegated from the Premier League following a tepid 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Shearer, who in April swapped the cosy life of a BBC studio pundit for the stress of trying to steer a terminally ill Newcastle side away from relegation, was brutally honest.

"We can have no complaints," an ashen-faced Shearer, who managed just one win in his eight games as manager, told Sky Sports. "We can't say we were unlucky in the season.

"We didn't go down today we went down because we weren't good enough over 38 games, that's the simple fact of the matter.

"Big changes need to be made, players need to go out, players need to come in, but it's not the right time to talk about that now."

Even by their eccentric standards, Newcastle's season has been chaotic both on and off the field.

Kevin Keegan, who returned last season as a Messiah after the sacking of Sam Allardyce, left in September after falling out with owner Mike Ashley -- a split that provoked bitter hostility towards Ashley from the fans.

The abuse meant Ashley stayed away from St James' Park in the aftermath of Keegan's exit and he put the club up for sale with little success.