The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope claims Steve Bruce WILL keep a hold of his job for now should a Saudi-backed takeover go through on Tyneside.
His latest ‘exclusive‘ claims that Amanda Staveley and co. feel it would be ‘wrong’ to sack Bruce just because he isn’t their chosen man, and suggests he will at least be given time in the ‘short term’.
It is no secret that Staveley is an admirer of Rafa Benitez and a potential return for the Spaniard has been mooted – with Sky Sports stating a move for the ex-boss is ‘almost inevitable’ – however it seems a move for the current Dalian Yifang boss would be far from straight forward.
The Mail reveals that Benitez’s current contract in China includes a “£20m buyout fee”, meaning a move for the 60-year-old could be put on hold – despite the fact he ‘remains in the conversation’
The report also states the links to former Juventus boss Max Allergi have also been played down, ‘at least in the short term’.
Here’s a snippet from Craig Hope’s piece:
Steve Bruce will keep his job as Newcastle manager should the proposed takeover of the club go through.
Sources close to the £300million deal being brokered by Amanda Staveley say it would be ‘wrong’ to make an immediate managerial change.
The suggestion that the Saudi-backed consortium will be bringing in one of the world’s most expensive coaches – such as former Juventus boss Max Allegri – has also been played down, at least in the short term.
Bruce, we are told, will remain. For how long would no doubt depend on his performance and, perhaps, the availability of alternatives.
Former Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez and those close to him have longstanding links to the Staveley camp, and his name remains part of the conversation around this proposed takeover.
Benitez, though, has a lucrative contract with Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang and, as Sportsmail revealed in December, it would take a world-record buyout in excess of £20m to release him this year.
That figure is likely to decrease with time but, politically, it is thought it would be very difficult for him to leave inside the first year of his contract.
It is thought that he (Bruce), like many of the club’s senior figures, remain in the dark over the takeover, which has been negotiated by Ashley’s trusted lieutenant Justin Barnes as well as his lawyers.
But Bruce should take some comfort from the news that his job will be safe and he will almost certainly get the chance to lead Newcastle into their next fixture, whenever that may be.
It would be harsh on Bruce should he be sacked, but it will seem like he is on borrowed time the moment the new consortium takes charge.
What would you like to see happen if and when the new owners arrive?
If this takeover happens and we have decent money to spend-why would you want either of them-with the negative defensive football that rafa or bruce insist on-theres only one man for the job and he has unfinished business here- thats KING KEV! GO GET HIM AMANDA! KEEGAN!
jim(Quote)
Bruce has been awful this season attacking football is what people want to watch. Get rid of Ashley’s yes man and bring in a proven experienced manager after all Bruce is only championship quality.
Mr Brown(Quote)
Rosco(Quote)
Only one man for the job KING KEV
Rosco(Quote)
Has to be Simeone for me. Bruce isn’t a prem manager as proved several times, and Rafa will play to defensive.
White assassin(Quote)