1 , 000 GAMES BUT LIFE AIN’T GRAND

If he makes this landmark on Sunday, Bruce will be a lame-duck boss, unwanted by the fans or new owners

IF Steve Bruce does make it to his 1,000th game on Sunday, he will be a lameduck manager.

Newcastle fans want him out and the group that now owns the club have refused to back him publicly.

United’s players have existed in an awkward limbo this week, working with Bruce and No.2 Graeme Jones on the training ground while wondering who is next in the hot seat.

The new regime’s boss is the same as the old one. For now.

Bruce staying on, however briefly, risks what will be a fresh start in front of a celebratory St James’ Park crowd turning sour if Tottenham take the points.

Top candidates such as Brendan Rodgers and Antonio Conte have no interest in the Toon job, preferring their next move to be actual elite, rather than wannabe winner.

A week on from the £305million takeover being completed, it turns out overhauling a football club is not a quick or easy job. Patience, and a long-term attitude prevail.

The new owners faced a dilemma. Briefings from close to the consortium that Bruce would be sacked early this week had the

United boss seething. He still had to prepare his squad for Sunday’s game with players thinking he was on the way out.

The owners promised a careful process of evaluation across the club, which is said to be an arduous process. While it is clear Bruce is not the longterm solution, the question asked was why sack him immediately without a replacement lined up? Why leave just Jones and Ben Dawson in charge on their own, and facing flak if they lose the next few games, when Bruce, Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence could hold the fort a bit longer. To counter that, the new regime wants to create momentum. Would that be possible with Bruce in the dug-out and chants demanding his sacking echoing around the ground.

Bruce (below) has a decision to make about whether to be wheeled out as boss and forced to field awkward questions about his future and the new owners, or put his foot down and demand clarity.

Complicating matters was Bruce’s £8m pay-off, which no manager would jeopardise.

The race is now on to find a replacement that tallies with the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium’s stated ambition of getting to the Champions League and challenging for the Premier League title.

Toon are being linked with a series of big names, although it is understood Leicester City’s Rodgers has a long-term aim of bossing Manchester City and is not interested.

Zinedine Zidane was sounded out but believes he could become France manager.

Rookie Frank Lampard is the new favourite, with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, also in the frame. Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has worked four times with Toon coach Jones.

Arsene Wenger, currently working with FIFA, who have fostered close relations with Saudi Arabia, has topquality pedigree having built the modern Arsenal.