Bruce plans for Newcastle future
STEVE BRUCE insists he is already planning for life as Newcastle head coach next season after steering the Magpies to safety. Bruce has been under-fire from a section of Newcastle fans all season, and there were widespread calls for his head after a 3-0 defeat against Brighton in March. Since then they have won three out of six games with only one defeat.
Asked if he was the man to lead the club again next season, Bruce replied: “I hope so. I have a contract. Until I hear otherwise I will crack on. I will never walk away.
“We have had conversations on transfer targets like who is available on a Bosman. Quietly we are working away. The big conversations have yet to be had and that is in the next week or two.”
Bruce, 60, was equally adamant that thoughts of retirement had not entered his head despite the barrage of criticism.
“I am a football manager, it is what I do,” said Bruce.
“You dust yourself down, and have a thick skin. I am nowhere near retirement yet.”
Bruce faced a backlash this week for suggesting expectations were inflated among fans, but insisted he was misunderstood.
He added: “Maybe I don’t have the vocabulary.What makes this club great is the supporters. They come in their thousands, are passionate, and want their club to do well. So do I.
“We all want to get to the top 10.We want to try and win a cup.We have to try and edge towards that.” NEWCASTLE (probable): Dubravka; Murphy, Clark, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie; Willock, Shelvey, Longstaff; Almiron; Saint-Maximin.