Former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has revealed how they trumped Manchester United to sign Alan Shearer.
Shepherd says they made their push after United moved the goal posts.
Eighteen years on from the signing that rocked football, Shepherd told the Evening Chronicle: "Do you know what happened with that transfer?
"We were up against Man U obviously. I had an agreement with Martin Edwards that neither club would go over £10m. Martin is a neighbour of mine in Majorca.
"The agreement was always to let each other know.
"One day he rang me and said they'd decided to do it."
However, shrewd Toon chief Freddy had already got wind of the approach from Man United before Edwards contacted him.
He reflected: "We met Shearer at David Platt's mother-in-law's house in Crewe.
"Martin rang me and said, 'We're going to go over the 10'. I said, 'Oh aye' but I already knew that it had leaked out that Shearer had met (Alex) Ferguson.
"We went in to see Shearer and Kevin had to leave to head off to the Far East for the pre-season tour.
"Me and Douglas (Hall) were left to do the deal and we did the deal with Alan."
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