Sam Allardyce wants to see Steve Bruce given a chance at Newcastle United following the takeover but predicts the club’s new Saudi owners will put a foreign coach in charge, speaking to talkSPORT (8 October, 9am).
The Magpies boss must know how poor old Damocles was feeling, a sharpened sword dangling precariously over his head.
With Mike Ashley gone and mega-rich owners making themselves comfortable in the St James’ Park boardroom, all signs suggest Bruce will be the first major casualty of the new regime.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph yesterday, the man himself admitted he was under no illusions about what the future might hold for him on the banks of the Tyne.
If he has a ‘future’ there at all…
“I’d like the chance to show the new owners what I can do. But you have to be realistic and they may well want a new manager to launch things for them,” admitted under-fire Bruce.
“New owners normally want a new manager. I’ve been around long enough to understand that.”
Has Bruce taken charge of his last Newcastle game following the takeover?
It’s not only the new owners who may want a change in the dugout. A fan survey this week revealed a staggering 95 per cent of Newcastle supporters want Bruce out (Sky Sports).
But who could replace the Corbridge-born gaffer? Sam Allardyce, the former Magpies and one-time (literally) Three Lions boss, believes the ‘continental option’ is on the menu.
“I think, nearly 99 times out of 100, they’ll pick a foreign coach because that’s what we consider to be flavour of the month,” Allardyce says, his words as bitter as a high-strength IPA.
“If the owner is there to spend money, people will be coming from all over the world looking for that job.
“It’s unfair to string Steve along if he’s not going to be their long-term future. He’s already said he’s realistic about the situation, as much as he loves the club.”
Allardyce, at least, can emphasise with Bruce.
“I wasn’t Mike (Ashley’s) choice, I was Freddy Shepherd’s choice and, because of that, it didn’t work out for me. We are always, for want of a better word, a scapegoat.
“I hope (Bruce) gets an opportunity to buy better players because he loves Newcastle!”
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