BRUCE: I’M THE BOSS.. AND I’M DOING THE SPENDING
STEVE BRUCE is staying in charge at Newcastle and can sign players – despite the takeover uncertainty.
Bruce hit back at claims the club is in limbo due to the stalled Saudi-funded buy-out. He says he has up to four targets – two currently being negotiated – that will kick the club on.
There were fears owner Mike Ashley would pull the plug on spending as he waits for the Premier League to rule on the £300million deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
But the club is self-funding and has some leeway to increase the wage bill and pay transfer fees without needing Ashley’s help.
Bruce (right) said: “Business as usual? Yes. Of course it is. To all the supporters listening, yes. We have things in the fire right now.
“Let’s hope we can pull them off. We have competition.
When it opens we will go to work and keep taking the club forward.
“We need the decision one way or another. But the only thing I can do with chief exec Lee Charnley
(above, with Ashley) is plan as best we can – and that includes transfers.
“The longer you are in the Premier League the bigger and better you can become. We have improved, but we can’t be happy with it.”
Bruce will give his stars three weeks off then have a three-week pre-season ahead of the next campaign, expected to start on September 12.
He predicts many top-flight clubs will be hard-up this summer, adding: “Even without a takeover, clubs will be taking stock. No income from season tickets. A chunk of money missing from TV rights. Planning has been disrupted. People will be cutting their cloth.
“I don’t think there will be huge, huge transfers like in the past. A lot will find it very tough.
“I hope it will be a busy summer. It is my job to knock down the door. We know we want to improve. We have to box clever and get good value for money and improve the squad.”
Jordan Henderson’s Liverpool visit Newcastle tomorrow and Bruce is delighted to see the kid he gave a debut to at Sunderland lift the title.
He said: “Jordan had all the traits of a leader at 18 – that’s why I put him in.”