Collymore blasts Bruce and Ashley as the ‘worst double act in Premier League history’

STAN Collymore has slammed Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce, insisting “neither seem to care” about Newcastle United’s slide.

The Magpies have won two of their last 20 matches, leaving them only two points above the bottom three.

Newcastle fans have made it clear they want to see Bruce replaced and were further enraged by Mike Ashley‘s decision to extend the Geordie’s stay of execution after an embarrassing defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Collymore, left, has sided with supporters, suggesting both Ashley and Bruce have shown little signs of life to halt Newcastle’s decline which could end in relegation.

“Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley are the worst double act in Premier League history,” he wrote in his latest Mirror column.

“They are driving Newcastle down to the Championship, and neither seem to care.

“If they did, Bruce would have resigned after that desperate defeat to Brighton, one of the least competitive performances in the Geordies’ recent history.

“Or Ashley would have woken up on Monday morning and cleared the decks, sacked Bruce, and lanced the discontent among Newcastle players that is poisoning the training ground.

“Instead, Ashley stood behind Bruce, admired his ‘passion’ and experience... despite the rest of the world seeing he’s well past his sell-by date.

“Sometimes I praise owners for giving a head coach time, but not after seeing what has unfolded at St James’ Park since mid-December.

“Two wins in 20 games, 13 defeats, only 14 goals scored and 35 against.

“He’s got a squad who don’t believe in him, and who downed tools at the weekend, showing no fighting spirit or pride. Totally directionless.

“This is not a bad collection of players. They are a lower mid-table outfit.

“Bruce never seems to be the one to take the blame. He shirks responsibility. Matt Ritchie called him a ‘coward’, so others have noticed too.

“He exudes misery... talking up average opposition, moaning about injuries, and talking in meaningless generalities.. while rival coaches give insightful detailed answers.

“With Ashley, it feels personal. Like he wants to mess the club around because he feels personally wounded because of the stick he’s taken. There’s an element of spite: ‘I own this club and I’ll do what I like, on my terms’.

“What is on Bruce’s CV that means he deserves to boss Newcastle, or his past clubs Sunderland, Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, or proves he can make these clubs better?

“They might get away with it and stay up. But poor Newcastle fans have gone from thinking they’re being taken over by Saudi Arabia and signing Mbappe, to a relegation fight, in the space of a few months. That’s as bad as it gets. From hope, to decline and possibly relegation.”