Bruce confident he could take Toon right to the top
STEVE BRUCE says he would back himself to be successful under Newcastle’s prospective new owners. The takeover of the club is still awaiting Premier League approval, although sources close to the £300million deal remain confident that the Saudi-led consortium will pass the owners and directors test. Once that happens the group will transfer the outstanding balance of £283m to Mike Ashley and implement plans that have been months in the making. Manager Bruce, who returned to training with his players this week, hopes to be part of that process. ‘If it’s good for Newcastle, and the club are going to try to compete with the (top) teams, to be part of it would be great,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘You do get labelled in the game, and that’s why I enjoyed my time managing in the Championship. I’d back myself against most in that division. But to be in a position where you are challenging, and you have a good enough team as Newcastle did in 1995 and under Sir Bobby Robson as well, then it would be wonderful. I’d back myself, of course I would. ‘Management, whether in the lower divisions or right at the top, is about getting the best out of what you’ve got. ‘I’d back myself to have a crack at it but whether that’s going to be the case, who knows?’ Newcastle have been linked with Mauricio Pochettino but sources insist no managerial shortlist has been drawn up and that the mooted salary of £19m is nonsense. They have been similarly dismissive of reported approaches for big-name players including Gareth Bale and Philippe Coutinho.