Singing Shearer

[AJ]

Alan Shearer may have scored a lot of goals in his career but not even his most ardent fans would claim that he is a barrel of laughs.

So when his agents, SFX, heard that a video clip of him was circulating in internet chat rooms, they feared the worst - particularly when they realised that it had apparently been submitted by his daughters, Chloe and Hollie.

Cue damage limitation exercise. Cue possible legal action to have the clip removed.

Yesterday, however, common sense prevailed when the money men behind Shearer finally saw the item and realised that it was not only harmless but also rather endearing.

The 30-second clip shows the normally po-faced striker singing lustily along to a U2 song as he drives near his £3 million home in Pontelant, Northumberland.

Not only that, but Shearer, 35, turns to the camera and beams when his daughter, camera phone in hand, breaks into an involuntary chuckle.

She and her sister, using the joint internet alias Clo Hoe, are believed to have posted the clip on the Bebo website in the past fortnight or so.

Since then it has gained cult status, with aficionados posting messages suggesting that their father could build a new career as a singer.

"What a guy," says one fan, while another urges: "Tell ure [sic] dad he is a legend."

A third says: "What a great guy! He's my favourite player of all time and now my favourite singer."

Chloe, 13, and Hollie, 11, clearly thought their father's singing amusing since they identified their clip as lmao (internet slang for ''laughed my arse off'').

At first their father's agents were not so enamoured.

"We have not given permission for this to be used," said a spokesman. "We are seeking legal action to get it removed."

A day later, however, there was at least a suggestion that they were beginning to see the funny side. This time a spokesman said: "We have looked into this on Alan's behalf and realised that the footage is completely innocent and is capturing Alan spending time with his family.

"As a result we will be taking no action."

Shearer, meanwhile, will be a little wary of his daughters' phones in future.

That expression is priceless.

[gunnar hendershow]

I must see this.

[Buford Ripley]

Meh, it's not very funny. I wouldn't bother.

[TheArsenal]

Gotta love his agents......probaby coming out with something like......

We don't think this comedic moment presents a good view of our client, Mr Shearer. To better his reputation after the damage this video have caused, we will seek out Mr Shearer to sue his 13 and 11 year old daughters. we feel our client will be better represented following this cause of action.

And they wonder why he didn't want to take legal action.

[John Stones' Paint Trophy]

I need to see it anyway. Just because it's Shearer singing.

[public enemy]

It's all over Youtube.

Not as funny as I was expecting, mind. You can barely hear him. :/

[John Stones' Paint Trophy]

Yeah, I just saw it.

The only funny thing is the expression at the end but the rest is a bit shit.

[IAceI]

I saw it on Sky Sports News, I found it more hilairious that it took so long for them to see the funny side of it rather than try and get it took off the internet.