Bruce: I will never be Ashley’s puppet
Steve Bruce has angrily denied he will be Mike Ashley’s puppet as Newcastle United manager and insisted he will have the final say on transfers in and out of the club.
Bruce knows he faces an uphill task to satisfy supporters he is the right man to replace Rafael Benitez.
His appointment has not gone down well with a large section of fans with protest groups planning to boycott the opening game of the season against Arsenal to show their anger at the failure to keep Benitez. But Bruce is confident he will prove his doubters wrong.
He apologised for leaving Sheffield Wednesday, but said he could not turn down the chance to manage his hometown club. “I know it is going to be difficult,” said Bruce, who also dismissed claims he was not on Newcastle’s original shortlist. “I understand I’ve got big boots to fill, but I couldn’t really refuse the opportunity. I’m like every Geordie living that dream. I’ll have to put up with some nonsense but I’m determined to have a go.
“I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and I’m not Rafa. With my experience, I’m confident we can continue to take the club forward. I’m quietly confident after nearly 400 games in the PL that I will do OK. I’m nobody’s puppet. Not Mike’s, not anyone’s. We want to make a couple of signings at least. With the loss of [Salomon] Rondon and [Ayoze] Perez, that’s an area we have to take a look at. We are active in the transfer market.
“Ultimately, I will have the final say, which is only correct.”
Bruce felt he needed to address the threat of legal action been taken by Sheffield Wednesday following his acrimonious departure.
“I enjoyed the three or four, five months I worked there. But a manager’s contract can be terminated [if clauses are met].
“That applies when a manager wants to leave. It was the challenge to manage this great club, that was the overriding factor for me to be as selfish as I was.”