Alan Shearer: Graham Carr has 'made a pig's ear' of Newcastle's recruitment

Shearer, in his column in The Sun, launched another attack on the running of the relegation-threatened club.

And Newcastle's all-time record goalscorer has damning in his criticism of Carr, who was lauded for signing Yohan Cabaye for less than £5million in 2011 but who has enjoyed less success in recent seasons.

"They have spent £80million on players this season and, at the moment, (Jonjo) Shelvey looks like the only good investment," said Shearer, who was interim manager the last time the club was relegated in 2009.

"The person who never seems to get a mention in this whole mess is chief scout Graham Carr.

"He holds a lot of power in terms of recruiting and selling players — and has quite frankly made a pig’s ear of it."

Shearer was critical of the team's performance in Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth on the BBC's Match of the Day.

In his column, he branded the display "pathetic".

he said: "The most shameful slur anyone can possibly aim at a professional player is that they simply don’t care about their club.

"But today that can be aimed at 90% of Newcastle’s players.

"Their pathetic performance against Bournemouth proved it once and for all.

"Was I surprised by it? I shouldn’t have been after the dross that has been served up by the team this season.

"But still I expected so much more in a must-win game."

On under-fire head coach Steve McClaren, Shearer added: "Steve was very lucky to get this job after overseeing Derby’s implosion last season.

"For some time now he has looked powerless to stop a slide into the Championship. Because that is where I am convinced my club is heading now."