GARY SPEED has insisted it would have been a "footballing tragedy'' had Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer missed out on Europe in his final season as a player.

Newcastle's 1-1 draw at Liverpool, coupled with Aston Villa's 2-0 home defeat by nine-man Manchester United, guaranteed the Magpies' fifth place in the Premiership on goal difference and a UEFA Cup berth next term.

Striker supreme Shearer will hang up his boots in a year's time, when he will be approaching his 35th birthday, and many still see him as the natural successor to manager Sir Bobby Robson at St. James' Park.

Robson is only under contract for one more season and chairman Freddy Shepherd, mindful that Shearer recently attained his UEFA 'B' coaching badge, wants the former England captain to be groomed as a potential replacement.

Evergreen Speed, 35 in September, is a close ally of Shearer and the midfielder said: "It would have been awful if we hadn't been in Europe next season.

"A player of Alan's quality needs to go out on a big stage. From a footballing point of view, it would have been a tragedy for him if he hadn't been able to play in Europe in his last season. Hopefully we can do him proud.

"It would have been a disaster if we'd finished sixth or seventh. This club needs European football, deserves it and is used to it.''

But with Liverpool having already beaten the Magpies to a Champions League place, Speed conceded: "We're feeling mixed emotions.

"We knew we could only qualify for the UEFA Cup and at least we've done that. We found out at half-time that Manchester United were leading against Villa and we're pleased they won and that we've achieved the only objective we had.

"At the same time, it's just a consolation. We would have preferred the Champions League.

"When you play for a club like Newcastle and things aren't going right, a lot is made of it. That goes with the territory.

"After losing the UEFA Cup semi-final to Marseille as well, we were on the floor, but we've picked ourselves up.

"The feeling is one of relief that Villa lost, but overall it's frustration, especially with our away form.

"We've only won two away games in the league and drawn 12. It was the same old story against Liverpool, but I thought the attitude of the players was spot-on.''

Among those who impressed was right-back Andy Griffin in his farewell appearance for the club.

Injury-plagued Griffin will move under freedom of contract this summer, and made the most of a shop-window opportunity with a tenacious display in his first game since the Carling Cup home defeat by West Brom at the end of October.

Robson said: "Andy did very well. He hasn't played since October. We knew he couldn't last the whole game but we got as much out of him as we could.

"I thought he did very well against Harry Kewell. He got his foot in and rattled him. But we've lost Andy, he's left us.''

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