Alan Shearer lining up a return to the dugout

Alan Shearer will put his Newcastle nightmare behind him and actively seek a manager’s role with another club in the coming months.

The Sunday Mirror has learned that the BBC Match Of The Day pundit has decided to throw his hat in to the football jobs market with immediate effect.

And the availability of one of English football’s most admired characters will no doubt cause interest in boardrooms up and down the country, with Shearer even prepared to consider a fresh start outside the Premier League.

His decision to pursue a career in management elsewhere comes after carefully weighing up his options in the wake of his shock summer snub by controversial Magpies owner Mike Ashley.

The Geordie legend, 39, had his heart set on managing his beloved hometown club this season after an eight-game spell in temporary charge at the end of last term’s relegation campaign.

But his hopes were dashed by Ashley’s decision not to sell the club and to hand Chris Hughton the job on a permanent basis with an 18-month contract after their impressive start to their Championship challenge.

That left the ex-England skipper with the agonising dilemma of sitting tight on the BBC sofa every Saturday night and waiting for the ownership situation at Newcastle to change or to look further afield for a new managerial challenge.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mirror last month the 60-times capped Shearer revealed he was “open to offers” from clubs.

Close friends believe he’ll be back working as a boss before the end of the season.

One associate said: “Alan has decided after enjoying his short taste of management at Newcastle that is the direction he’d like to go in.

“He was hurt and frustrated by the way things ultimately ended there, but has bounced back with an enthusiasm and a desire to find another manager’s job.

“The BBC have always been very supportive and sympathetic to his ambition in that direction and, although he has a contract until next year, they wouldn’t stand in his way although they would hope he was available for next summer’s World Cup.”

Hull City are one top-flight club who could soon be looking for a new manager, with Phil Brown under fire.