STUART Ripley has urged Blackburn Rovers to ignore the ‘Shearer factor’ as they fight for Premier League survival – insisting their fate is in no-one else’s hands but their own.

The former Rovers winger admits the relegation run-in has taken a new twist with Alan Shearer’s imminent managerial appointment at St James’ Park but warns the move does not mean guaranteed safety for the troubled Toon.

Shearer, who holds legend status at both Newcastle and Ewood Park, is expected to be unveiled as an emergency boss on Tyneside for the last eight games of the season with the Magpies currently sitting in the Premier League drop zone.

Newcastle United fans are already hailing the return of ‘their Messiah’ while fans of their relegation rivals are fearing Shearer’s presence could galvanise a great escape in the North East.

Ripley though insists his former Rovers team mate’s arrival will not necessarily condemn someone else to the Championship as the clamber to avoid those bottom three spots starts in earnest on Saturday.

He said: “There are no guarantees in football. Alan Shearer won’t have a magic formula that simply involves him just turning up for Newcastle United to be safe. He will have a very tough job on his hands.

“Blackburn don’t need to look at what is happening there, they have to look after themselves. At the moment their fate is in their own hands so why fear what Shearer can do at Newcastle?

“Only Blackburn Rovers as a club and as a set of players can send the club down. No one else. Blackburn don’t have to depend on other clubs.

“I am a big Middlesbrough fan and so I am keeping my fingers crossed them and Blackburn can get out of trouble.”

Shearer’s entry into management should come as no surprise with the former Rovers and England ace tempted by the managerial position at Ewood Park this summer.

He eventually withdrew from the race to replace Mark Hughes, leaving Paul Ince to fill the hot-seat, but Ripley admits it was inevitable he would one day take charge of his home town club.

Ripley said: “It has come as a bit of surprise because Alan keeps his cards close to his chest, so this is a very interesting one.

“Newcastle United is in his blood though and I suppose it was only going to be a matter of time before he took the job up there.

"In a way in this position he has nothing to lose, because no one can blame whatever happens.

“As a player he led by example. He was never particularly vocal in the dressing room but led by what he did on the pitch.

"I am sure though he will have a big effect on the atmosphere up there.”

Ripley and Shearer were together at Ewood during Rovers’ 1995 Premier League title winning campaign but both now have their sights on the other end of the table.

Rovers and Newcastle are just two of nine clubs seriously involved in the relegation dog-fight, with Tottenham visitors to Ewood Park on Saturday and Chelsea travelling to St James’ Park.

“It is going to be difficult for Alan,” said Ripley. “You only have to look at the fixtures to see he has a real job on his hands to keep Newcastle United in the Premier League.

“There are eight games left. He doesn’t have time to build up managerial knowledge but don’t get me wrong he is probably the only guy who could make this work.

“It is a risk. He is going into this without management credentials but we will have to see what happens won’t we?”