AS fans mourn the loss of prodigal son Alan Shearer to Newcastle United for a world record fee of £15 million, one man has dared to say he is glad to see the back of him!

For bookie Michael Carysforth says that the former Rovers' favourite has cost him a small fortune over the past couple of years - thanks to his unequalled scoring feats.

And daring Michael, 33, who runs the family owned Carysforth Racing on Johnston Street, Blackburn with his brother Steve, even says that Newcastle is not far enough away!

He said: "From a business point of view I wish he had gone to Italy where we don't take bets on players scoring the first goal of a game. Punters will still bet on him now that he has gone to Newcastle but hopefully not as many as before. He has cost us thousands of pounds since he came to Blackburn."

He added: "I've been in the trade for 12 years and I can't remember anything or anyone costing us so much money."

Since Alan Shearer joined Blackburn from Southampton four years ago for a then British record of £3.3 million, Europe's premier striker has hit a staggering 130 goals in just 165 appearances plus six as a substitute.

On average, Carysforth were offering low odds of 11/4 for Shearer to grab Rovers first goal of each game last season - but that didn't deter fans. And when the odds dropped for the Euro 96 to 5/1, Shearer typically came up trumps.

Michael moaned: "He hadn't scored for 18 months for England and then he goes and wins the Golden Boot. It's just typical of the player."

From a personal note, Michael, who lives with his wife Alyson on Wellfield Estate, Clayton-le-Moors, wishes Shearer was wearing the red and white of his beloved Manchester United rather than the black and white stripes of the hitman's native Newcastle.

He said: "I'm a Manchester United fan and I'm gutted he's joined them - now I just pity the bookies up in Newcastle."

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