FREDDY SHEPHERD stood in front of Newcastle United's managerless squad yesterday to explain his reasons why there has been a change of regime. In truth, he might as well repeat the action in the dressing room tomorrow.

Given that his search for the fifth manager of his chairmanship has started in earnest, it would seem the chances of ending 50 years without domestic silverware would be just as likely if Shepherd took over.

The appointments of Glenn Roeder and Alan Shearer on a caretaker basis are designed to steer the club out of the rocky waters they have been sailing in for months.

But the fact they can only take charge for 12 weeks, as neither holds the requisite qualification to be a manager in the Premiership, is a clear indication that Shepherd's work has just begun.

A new replacement needs to be found, the playing staff need to be clear in what direction the club are heading and the appointment needs to be perfect. Something the man at the top has got wrong on a number of occasions already.

Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson all perished in high summer after Kevin Keegan resigned in 1997. The internal politics proved impossible for the triumvirate to come to terms with.

Even though two of the above were unpopular managers on Tyneside, none had a more fractious relationship with the supporters than Souness from day one.

For that reason Shepherd must hold part of the blame. Robson's successor always had to be the right choice, not an afterthought who was only chosen because there was no-one else.

Seventeen months later the same names are likely to be targeted again. But this time if Shepherd has no success in attracting any of his first choices there should be no panic.

Sam Allardyce, Steve Bruce, Martin O'Neill and Ottmar Hitzfeld are four of the names who have cropped up again. Sven-Goran Eriksson and Paul Jewell are two of the new additions.

But whatever paths Shepherd and his board do decide to pursue, there has to be a more patient approach. Rather than make a rash decision, as in the appointment of Souness, he would be better off bowing to many fans' demands and reinstating Keegan.

Otherwise there could be a repeat performance. A £5m compensation bill for the new manager and his assistants, after a relatively short reign that enjoyed even shorter spells of success.

Two semi-finals last season had offered light and encouragement, but the way Souness' side capitulated at the hands of Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United highlighted the manager's deficiencies.

Shepherd, who had been the Scot's biggest supporter until recent months when the relationship became increasingly strained, would point to the way Souness broke up a disruptive dressing room as one of his successes.

Off-loading Laurent Robert and Craig Bellamy were seen as major factors in cleaning up the image of a club with an unruly dressing room. The truth is that neither has been replaced.

Shepherd's massive spending in the transfer market - almost £50m was entrusted to Souness to bring success back to Gallowgate - has saved him from brickbats being hurled his way.

But another wrong move on the managerial front, regardless of the amount of cash he is willing to throw the new man's way, and an avoidance of criticism is unlikely to be achieved again