Eddie Howe has answered any lingering doubts about commitment to the North East by not only moving his family to the area - but into the former home of one of the region's favourite sons.
Although, it was only when Howe was scanning Netflix and spotted 'Alan's programmes' that he realised the previous occupant of his new home. Howe picks up the tale and smiles as he tells assembled journalists in Riyadh: "Yes (it is Shearer's house), but I did not know until I moved in. I turned on the TV and Alan’s Netflix came up!
"It was there on the screen, 'Al'. So I thought, 'Oh, the last owner was called Al'. It was only then someone said to me it was Alan Shearer! I did not dare go back in and check what he had been watching!
