Gabby Agbonlahor has told talkSPORT that Newcastle United should keep hold of Steve Bruce for now.
The 60-year-old coach revealed to The Daily Mail on Thursday that he’s fearing for his job, with the Northern Echo reporting that Saudi Public Investment Fund – who completed their takeover of the club last week – will ‘move him aside’ shortly.
And with PIF boasting fortune of £320 billion, fans of the St James’s Park club are looking forward to a new chapter in their history and one that involves a number of marquee names – including in the dugout.
The likes of Antonio Conte have been linked with replacing Bruce, whose 1,000th game in management comes against Tottenham at St James’s next weekend, if he lasts that long.
Bruce, a lifelong Newcastle fan, could probably do far better in the North East had Ashley backed him properly in the transfer market.
And Agbonlahor feels that the veteran coach deserves the chance to prove himself with the new owners’ investment, adding that it’s ‘dangerous’ for United – who are 19th in the Premier League table – to change things so suddenly.
He told talkSPORT: “I’d keep Steve Bruce, give him money to spend in January. Give him a chance. He’s not had money a lot to spend in his career. See what better players he can bring in and see how it pans out. People are too quick to say ‘get rid of him’ but it’s dangerous during a relegation battle to change a manager.”
Is it dangerous to sack Bruce?
Well, the way that Amanda Staveley and PIF will look at it is that it’s far more dangerous to keep him in charge.
Yes the Magpies are only one point from safety, but they’re also yet to win any of their seven Premier League games and that’ll worry the new owners.
That being said, Bruce is long enough in this game to know that they’re only a purple patch away from climbing the ladder in a big way.
And the feel-good vibes from last week could well have a knock-on effect for the team’s form and morale.
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