Next three games crucial
NO SUPPORTERS AT ST JAMES’ THIS SEASON – BUT FULHAM COULD HAVE 6,000 IN FOR POSSIBLE RELEGATION DECIDER ASHLEY RELUCTANT TO MAKE CHANGE AS BOSS
SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS SUPPORTERS’ ANGER
STEVE Bruce will be back in the dugout for Newcastle United’s home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night, despite the club’s poor form.
The Magpies head coach gave his players the day off yesterday but they will be back at the training ground to prepare for the weekend’s crucial clash.
Bruce vowed to fight on after the loss at Old Trafford and insisted he would be able to guide Newcastle away from danger.
With 13 games to go, Newcastle only have a three-point cushion over Fulham in the battle to avoid relegation.
Rather than making any major change in the dugout, United brought in former Luton Town boss Graeme Jones as assistant head coach in response to a poor post-Christmas run of results.
Since Jones’ arrival, the Magpies have won two of their five matches; prior to him joining the club were winless in 11 games.
Mike Ashley is reluctant to make changes while the club are not making any money through the turnstiles, particularly as it would mean paying around £1.5million to Bruce, whose services he paid Sheffield Wednesday £4million for.
Ashley’s plan so far has been to stick with Bruce as long as Newcastle stay outside of the bottom three. That could change this weekend if Fulham beat Crystal Palace and United lose to Wolves.
Bruce revealed earlier this season that his remit from Ashley was to keep Newcastle in the Premier League this season, which he has done as the club have not been in the bottom three since October 2019.
The under-pressure boss has had the sympathy and understanding of managing director Lee Charnley and Ashley’s close aide Justin Barnes after Covid and injury problems.
Whether the fighting spirit shown for an hour at Old Trafford on Sunday is enough evidence to suggest Newcastle can stave off the threat of relegation remains to be seen.
It is now a case of how far the goodwill of the powers that be extends for Bruce.
Ashley is still desperate to sell the club to Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-backed consortium, which would net him £340million.
The retail magnate is waiting for answers from lawyers and the Premier League and it seems he will only decide to make a change if it looks like the club really will fall into the Championship.