Ruud Gullit has opened the door for Alan Shearer to leave Newcastle. The Newcastle manager, speaking after his side's 1-0 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park, challenged Shearer to pledge his future to the Magpies, but claimed he would not stand in the player's way if he wanted out. Last night Gullit said Shearer's future at the club was in his own hands. "For me, Alan Shearer is not for sale," said the Dutchman.

"I have already told him, but it is also important that the player wants to stay. If the player does not want to stay for whatever reason, well . . .

"It depends on him, not on me. Every player needs to be happy where he is. If he is unhappy, then what's the point? I would like to hear from him if he is not happy. If he is happy, then he will stay.

"I think he is a world class player and I would like to keep him, but I don't know if he as a player really wants to stay and that is the point."

Harry Redknapp could be a surprise candidate for the manager's job at Blackburn Rovers after falling out with his beloved West Ham. Redknapp was left seething when the Hammers' chief executive Peter Storrie interfered in team matters by pulling Andrew Impey from the side to play at Derby on Sunday, pending the winger's £1.5 million proposed transfer to Leicester City. Impey will make his decision today.

Blackburn's secretary Tom Finn, who held the position at West Ham for many years, is now understood to be pressing his friend's claims for the Blackburn vacancy after the sacking of Roy Hodgson.

Shelbourne look set to solve their problems on the left side of midfield by moving to bring back Mark Rutherford in time for Friday night's game against UCD. The winger left the club for England at the start of the season but the move was never completed.

Now manager Dermot Keely, who has lost Rutherford's replacement James Keddy for the season due to a cruciate ligament problem, appears to be keen on bringing the winger back.