HAVING seen their record goalscorer’s playing career come to a premature close, Newcastle United are now on the verge of losing the manager who has revitalised their fortunes over the past three months. While the effect will be cosmetic, FA Premier League regulations dictate that Saturday’s home match against West Bromwich Albion will be Glenn Roeder’s last in his present role.

Alan Shearer is still “clinging to a very small hope” to the contrary, but Newcastle have accepted that, after injuring his knee against Sunderland on Monday, their captain will not make another competitive appearance. “He will not play again,” Roeder said, “and Alan knows that.” Due to retire at the end of this season, Shearer’s fate will be confirmed by the results of a scan on his suspected ligament damage on Friday.

His absence is not the only inconvenience. Lacking a Uefa Pro Licence, now the mandatory qualification for managers, Roeder will be formally required to relinquish his caretaker’s position before Newcastle’s match away to Birmingham City on Saturday week, when his 12-week dispensation comes to an end.

It is a farcical situation. Unlike the coaching-based Uefa A licence, which Roeder completed in 1999, the Pro Licence is a short academic course that covers topics such as time management, youth development and dealing with the demands of the media and agents. Roeder has, of course, already managed West Ham United for two full seasons in the Barclays Premiership.

Tommy Craig, the reserve-team coach, who possesses the necessary qualifications, will be installed in Roeder’s place next week, although the latter will continue to coach and select the first team and sit in the dugout. The club have been revitalised since Roeder replaced Graeme Souness in February. “Glenn has been fantastic. Full marks to him,” Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, said.

In 12 league matches under Roeder, Newcastle have amassed 25 points, a tally that has propelled them into contention for European competition. While injuries have continued to afflict them — Michael Owen, Steven Taylor, Emre Belözoglu, Scott Parker, Lee Bowyer and Shola Ameobi all missed the 4-1 victory over Sunderland — they no longer define the club as they did under Souness.

Monday’s trouncing marked the three-year anniversary of Roeder’s collapse with a brain tumour; a reminder of perspectives, as well as of a talent that was questioned in the wake of West Ham’s relegation in 2003. Martin O’Neill is still Shepherd’s first choice to succeed Souness, but Roeder is now next on the list.

The chairman’s pursuit of a new manager has been hindered by the FA’s search for a successor to Sven-Göran Eriksson, but should his protracted courtship of O’Neill not be consummated, Roeder would be a popular alternative. A former Newcastle captain, Roeder may have softened his stance since he ruled himself out on the day of his appointment.

The prospect of him holding the fort until Shearer — who has been assisting Roeder — is ready to embrace management is an appealing one. “One day I would like a bash at it,” Shearer, 35, said in London last night, when he was presented with the HMV Lifetime Achievement Award. “I have made no secret that I’m doing my (coaching) badges at the moment, but I want a few years off to enjoy life before then.” An ambassadorial role beckons.

The most prolific striker in Premiership history — Shearer has also scored 30 times in 63 appearances for England — will not add to the 409 goals he has plundered since marking his debut for Southampton with a hat-trick. Typically, he will fight to the end.

“I’m fearing the worst,” he said. “I have been injured plenty of times before, so I know the scenario, but over the years my glass has always been half full and not half empty.”