Steve Bruce is now claiming he ‘recommended’ Eddie Howe to Newcastle’s owners – amusing comments from a man who called the 45-year-old ‘the fella from Bournemouth that got relegated last year’ just months before his appointment.
Howe had been linked with the Newcastle job before Bruce had even been sacked, and the former Toon boss was insulted, snapping back at a reporter at The Chronicle during a fiery press conference.
Now, with Newcastle flying high in the Premier League and Howe on target to potentially be manager of the season, Bruce has told the Die For Three Points podcast he actually suggested Howe to the new ownership.
He went on to say how ‘delighted’ he is to see Newcastle and Howe doing so well this season, but insists it ‘didn’t matter’ whatever he tried to do during his time on Tyneside, it just ‘wasn’t to be’.
On the podcast, Bruce said: “I’m delighted Newcastle are doing well right now. But it didn’t matter what we tried to do, or did do up there. It didn’t matter very much. It just wasn’t going to be.
“But now over the last 12 months, they’ve had the change of ownership and a new change of direction. The new owners with me were terrific, I have to say. They came to me and said, ‘Look, how can we help you?’
“I turned to them and said, ‘Well, I think my time might be up here because the only negative thing here is myself’. And would you believe it, they did ask me for my opinion on who should take over from me and I did put forward Eddie to them.
“I told them I thought he was a very, very good young manager and I’m pleased to say that he got the job and I’m delighted that they’re doing so well.”
This is a stark contrast to how he felt towards the former Cherries head coach back in 2021 after an outburst towards the rumours and the media. Prior to his sacking, Bruce had this to say to The Chronicle on the Howe links:
“When I see polls, the next manager and the fella from Bournemouth, I find it disrespectful, I have to tell you. Your paper was gunning for a manager that got a team relegated last year.”
