Bruce for axe as Saudis get Toon in shape
Steve Bruce’s reign as Newc a st le Uni t ed ’ s manager will end this week.
The club’s new Saudi owners will axe the 60 year old in what will be the first major decision in reshaping the Tyneside club.
A collective agreement has been reached by the hierarchy that the Magpies need a fresh direction – and the current boss will learn his fate in the next few days.
That move means Graeme Jones will be in the dug- out for next week’s sell-out clash with Spurs.
The club’s assistant coach will step up into the role of caretaker whi le Newcastle crank up their search for a replacement.
But suggestions that Italian pair Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini could be set for a return to the Premier League are wide of the mark.
Zinedine Zidane’s name has also been mentioned but there appears little appetite to appoint the former Real Madrid boss.
One problem that the decision-makers have been confronted with this week has been the speed with which the takeover went through.
It means that whi le Bruce’s exit is a formality, there is no-one lined up to take over.
The news of Bruce’s axing will be warmly received by the Toon Army.
But Bruce will leave with his head held high after retaining the club’s top-flight status against a difficult backdrop, with previous owner Mike Ashley nowhere to be seen during a winless start to the campaign.
And his compensation pay-out estimated at £ 8m should help heal the wounds of his exit.
Meanwhile, Ashley is eyeing up a move to rescue stricken Championship club Derby County after finally selling Newcastle.
Ashley fought tooth and nai l with the Premier League to push through the £ 305m deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to end his controversia l 14- year Tyneside reign.
But he hasn’t closed the door on any future football involvement.
And last night sources close to Ashley revealed an interest in buying Derby, who are currently in administration.
An aide insists he’s keen to stay in the game – even if Derby are looking at a future in League One.
The Rams raid makes sense with Ashley’s Sports Direct headquarters in Shirebrook, just 30 miles from Pride Park. He also wants to give his empire a public platform – and owning the Rams would provide that.