Alan Shearer recently detailed how many times he tried to introduce a penalty system when he was interim manager at Newcastle United in 2009, only to face a backlash from his players.
The 53-year-old stated that on his very first day, he called every member of the team, including staff, asking what time everyone should show up for training.
However, the former England striker revealed that two players were late, as well as a member of staff.
After attempting to resolve the situation privately, Shearer explained that one of the two players was late again the next day – at which point the Englishman decided to take matters into his own hands.
Speaking about the latest episode of The rest is football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer said: ‘I remember when I was appointed manager on the Wednesday afternoon, I called around to every player and staff member and said ‘what time do we get in the next morning?’
Alan Shearer recalled the time he faced backlash from his Newcastle players after trying to implement a penalty system
The 53-year-old was left furious after two players turned up late on his first day as manager
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‘The staff had to be in at 9am and the players at 9.30am. The next morning I had one staff member late and two players late.
“I’m thinking ‘what the fuck?’ Can you think of any other cases where you arrive late or clock in too late? I immediately thought that there are big problems at the football club.
Shearer was Newcastle’s fourth manager that season, with the Englishman revealing there were major problems at the club before his arrival.
“I thought, ‘here’s my first test.’ Do I set the bar here and try to fine the players or do I try to discipline or do I just have a quiet word and not make a scene on your very first day,” when asked how he approached the situation.
“There was probably a culture there that it was okay for players to be late. if that’s the case, you’ll never be successful.”
Shearer, 53, said he had just had a quiet word with the three people who were late and claimed he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. However, the next day the Englishman revealed that one of the same players was late again.
‘No word of a lie, one of the players, the same player, was also late the next morning. So I’m thinking ‘f*****g hell, this is incredible!’
‘Then I tried to put a nice system in, and I thought: if I don’t do this, this will keep happening.’ But in order to draw up a good system, you need to print it on a piece of paper.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said the PFA would not allow him to introduce a penalty system
Newcastle were subsequently relegated that season – the club deciding not to offer Shearer the full-time role.
Shearer tried to emphasize his authority on the matter, claiming that he was trying to introduce a penalty system. The former Newcastle star revealed the players were immediately against it.
“So what I tried to do, the first time you’re late. I said, ‘everyone is clean. The first time you’re late it’s 10 percent of your pay, the second time you’re late it’s 20 percent and the third time it’s 50 percent.”
“Within two minutes of it hitting the locker room floor, I had the players’ committee knocking on my door and saying, ‘This is unacceptable.’
Shearer later told how Erik ten Hag is dealing with some ‘serious’ problems off the field
‘You know what I said? I said: ‘Then don’t be late.’
Shearer later stated that the penalty system was never introduced because the PFA would not allow it. The Magpies would be relegated that season, with the club choosing not to offer the Englishman a full-time role at the club.
He also discussed the current situation at Manchester United. Shearer said Erik ten Hag is dealing with ‘some very serious off-field issues’ – as he experienced at St James’ Park.
According to reports, ‘four stars were involved in a furious dressing room raid’ after United’s defeat to Brighton was abandoned by the club.