Sir Bobby Robson plans to carry on as boss of Newcastle United until the end of next season.
There was talk that Robson may decide to call it a day next May after celebrating his 70th birthday in February.
But the word from the Robson camp is that the United manager has decided to continue for the rest of this campaign and the whole of next term before retiring at the grand old age of 71.
And it is a decision which will be greeted with delight by the Toon Army. For Robson is as popular now as he has been at any time in three years he has been at St James's Park.
Tyneside has loved every minute of the Champions' League football Robson has brought to St James's Park this season.
My view is that there is no reason why Robson should call it a day simply because of his age. I am in regular contact with him and he is still as sharp as ever.
Certainly, chairman Freddy Shepherd's idea to give Robson a rollover contract was a good one. It means that every day Robson always has one year left on his contract and the decision as to when to stand down is his.
And when he does step aside there is every chance that Alan Shearer will be in a position to take over from the man he admires so much.
Shearer hates talk of him being United boss because he does not want to be seen to be putting any pressure on Robson.
But, when Sir Bobby leaves, the United skipper will be approaching 34 and his thoughts will be reluctantly turning to the day he has to hang up his goalscoring boots. Shearer is currently on top form but - as he did with England - he will want to go out at the top.
Nothing is written in stone, but knowing Shepherd as I do I feel the United chairman would love Geordie boy Shearer as his next manager.
Shearer could well make an excellent manager of Newcastle United. He knows the game and will be strong enough to take no nonsense from any players, in the manner of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
The only minus for Shearer is his lack of managerial experience. But neither had Kevin Keegan any when he arrived at St James's Park in 1992.
