Have I had enough of the job? Definitely not. I had a row.. but the players are 100% committed

STEVE BRUCE spat out the words like a manager up for a fight.

“Bust-up, testosterone, emotional, edgy men,” he said as he explained the “coward” confrontation with Toon midfielder Matt Ritchie. “Absurd, obscene, bordering on ridiculous,” he said about accusations that he had given his struggling players too many days off – three this week – ahead of tomorrow’s massive relegation clash against West Brom.

“Definitely not,” he said when asked if he had had enough of the job.

After a week of turmoil and friction at St James’ Park, Bruce decided to come out fighting. He accused club gossips who leaked news of the shoulder-barging row with Ritchie as perpetrators of “treason” against his club, and vowed to hunt them down.

Bruce was calm and measured. This was no rant. He may have lost the faith of many Toon fans, and some of his players are divided, but this wasn’t a man on the verge of losing it. It was an act of defiance and owner Mike Ashley, who loves creative conflict in his business dealings, will have loved it.

Bruce said: “I am more committed than ever to get us out of the trouble we are in, and the players are too.

“I have 100 percent faith in them. Just because things get tough...I always knew it would be tough.”

On his dispute with Ritchie on Tuesday, Bruce said: “There is no denying it. I have had a row. That happens on training grounds every week.

“When you’re dealing with 25 men, highly competitive, highly on the edge, of course you will get a row.”

Ritchie was upset over being blamed by his manager for failing to communicate a tactical tweak when he came on as a sub against Wolves last weekend, just before the Midlanders equalised.

He reportedly phoned the manager for showdown talks and was told to wait until Tuesday. He responded by calling the manager a coward.

Bruce added: “I tried to be truthful but I could have been better in the post-game interview.”

Bruce fielded questions about the number of days off his players have been getting.

He added: “Now it is bordering on ridiculous (to criticise that). The playing schedule is ridiculous. Look, the days off were decided two and a half weeks ago by sports scientists, me, the doctor, we all decided on rest and recovery time.

“This week in particular gives us a chance to get a little rest into the players who have had an unbelievably tough season.”

Bruce is rattled, as are some of his players, that there are so many leaks from the training ground. But instead of destabilising the club, he believes it will foster a rallying spirit.

“When you’re up against that you always believe you can circle the wagons and I’ve got complete faith in the squad,” he said. “We will do our utmost to get out of the trouble we’re in.”

Newcastle players will give their response against West Brom, the only thing that actually counts after a week of chaos and acrimony.