Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer was unimpressed by Fabricio Coloccini's open letter to fans this week.

Coloccini penned his open letter to Toon fans pleading for their support.

But Shearer told BBC Sport: "I was surprised that Coloccini had written a letter to the fans asking them to stick with the team because I think if there's one thing that is pretty much guaranteed at Newcastle it is that fans will turn up and support.

"Despite there being protests and fans not turning up for specific games, there's always been plus-46,000 there. So for a player to come out and ask the fans to still support them, I was a bit taken aback and disappointed in that.

"First and foremost the players have got to give the fans something to shout about and that has to come first. And of late, and for a long time, the players haven't given the fans anything to shout about."