Treatment of Bruce just shameful, says Neville
GARY Neville believes the way his former team-mate Steve Bruce has been treated by Newcastle’s new owners would be considered “employment abuse” in any other industry.
Bruce had been kept in the dark over his future following the Saudi Arabia-based consortium’s takeover before effectively being told to carry on as manager until further notice at the end of last week.
TV pundit Neville said: “I think this thing now with Steve Bruce is totally wrong.
“If this was any other industry, any other walk of life, it would be classed as employment abuse.
“The employer would be in serious trouble with their employee, they absolutely would.
“You have to show and demonstrate decency.”
It was widely thought Bruce’s days were numbered after Amanda Staveley’s consortium completed its takeover on October 7.
However, the 60-year-old remains at the helm as head coach as the new owners continue to assess their options.
Despite heavy criticism from a large section of fans, he has vowed to fight for the job handed to him by previous owner Mike Ashley in July 2019.
Neville added: “I’m not talking about the criticism from the Newcastle fans.
“I’m talking about the ongoing situation - the leaks, the things which have happened in the last week, two weeks, four weeks, six weeks.
“It is not fair on a brilliant man, a great football man, a great player, a manager who has had 1,000 games.
“He deserves to be treated with decency.
“Football managers get crack, Steve Bruce will get crack.
“If you’re going to sack him, pay him up the full money, don’t resist it, do the right thing and move on.
“If you’re not going to sack him tell him and at least be clear about what you’re going to do, so at least the fans can start having a go at you.
“Stop using Steve Bruce as what would be a shield for the criticism at that football club.”