The underlying problem was that Shearer had become too powerful a figure within the club. I'm inclined to believe the account that five more promising candidates turned the job down, and Souness was the only one prepared to take the situation on.
I don't particularly blame Shearer for it. At a crucial point, Shepherd didn't back Sir Bob's judgement about the player, and it was downhill from that point.
I've never heard that before. Souness was Shepherd's man from the word go, was he not?
I remember the rumblings at the time that Shearer was the chosen one and Souness was brought in to fill time until Shearer retired and was ready to take over.