Steve Bruce made some interesting comments after last night’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.
He announced the signing of former Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, backing up weekend claims that the free agent had ‘agreed’ a 3-year deal on Tyneside, but his comments on the takeover front were perhaps more telling.
The NUFC boss admitted the situation “is not healthy for anybody” and urged the Premier League to offer some “clarity” on the matter, saying it’s time the saga was “put to bed one way or another” after 13 weeks of waiting for him, his players and, more importantly, a huge number of Newcastle fans who’ve gone from excited and expectant to exhausted and anxious over the past three months.
Speaking on a Zoom call to all the local reporters present at St James’ Park, here’s what he had to say on the takeover front after last night’s game:
“I think everybody needs a bit of clarity.
“And if I am led to believe it is the Premier League that are stalling all of the negotiations then they have to come and make a decision sooner or later.
“It is not healthy for anybody.
“As I have said for me personally, and we have another game on Wednesday now (at Bournemouth) and we have a wonderful opportunity.
“We can’t use that (the takeover) as an excuse but we need a bit of clarity and get it put to bed one way or another.”
The saga has gone on way too long now. We all want a positive conclusion and to see the Premier League give this Saudi-backed deal the green light, but there’s only so long we can be left waiting.
It’s not healthy for us, the immediate future club, our players or Steve Bruce – a man who’s been left in the dark to get on with a job that may yet be under threat if new owners arrive with different ideas!
On the subject of Gillespie, he’ll be a straight replacement for Elliot – only he’s six years younger and likely to be on lower wages too.
Some wonder why we’ve bothered while we have Dubravka, Darlow and Woodman already on our books, but Gillespie’s arrival may allow the latter to go out on loan again next season – something he’s benefited from hugely during his impressive stint at Swansea.
Transfer talk aside, let’s just hope a happy ending arrives this week so this tedious takeover saga can finally be put to bed!
For me we have to somehow ensure that we keep Woodman. With Elliot gone we’ve still got four keepers. Dubravka is without doubt #1 and Darlow never let’s us down. Gillespie will be happy with his role as #3 as he’s back in his birth region and with his boyhood club. For me if Woodman was happy to be #2 and get limited game time then I’d sell Darlow purely on the basis that he’s not the future. However if Woodman was prepared to go out on loan for one more season and Darlow is happy to be #2 then I’d go with that option. Either way I believe Woodman is the future.
Uncle Jeff(Quote)