Steve Bruce and the squad are expected back at the training ground on Monday after an extended break. The lads have had the last three days off as the new owners have taken their initial look at the state of affairs with the club.
Numerous reports have Steve Bruce being let go this week with assistant coach Graeme Jones being kept on as caretaker manager. The Northern Echo is the latest outlet to report of Steve Bruce’s imminent sacking.
Scott Wilson’s report also backs Jones to be on the touchline for the Tottenham match next Sunday. The new owners are expected to embark on an exhaustive search for the right manager to spearhead Newcastle’s rebuild.
The usual suspects are named in this latest article with Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers cited as a real possibility even with him turning The Foxes into perennial Champions League contenders. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is also expected to get a look.
A couple of available managers were also named in Wilson’s report. Antonio Conte would be a top candidate, however, his high demands for control could mean he ends up be a non-starter for the board. However, he is reportedly interested in at least a discussion.
Another manager currently out of a job that could make the list is former Dortmund manager Lucien Favre (pictured above). The 63-year-old has been linked with Newcastle twice in the past. According to Wilson, he has recently expressed interest in becoming the next Newcastle manager.
Favre was part of an initial four-man shortlist when our new ownership group first reached the agreement to purchase Newcastle from Mike Ashley in April of 2020. He was also recommended to Mike Ashley by Graham Carr back in 2015 after Alan Pardew left for Crystal Palace.
The Swiss manager has been out of work since being sacked from Dortmund in December 2020. Prior to his spell with Dortmund, he spent two years in France with Nice.
It was Favre who brought Allan Saint-Maximin to Nice from Monaco in 2017. He’s also managed Hertha Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
A couple of Englishmen round out the candidates in Eddie Howe and Graham Potter. Howe is also available but may covet the Southampton post if Ralph Hasenthuttl can’t turn things around at St Mary’s.
Graham Potter has done very well with limited resources at Brighton. He is also a friend of Graeme Jones, who the board hopes to retain in some role. While Potter may not be a big splash appointment, he is a manager on the rise and could thrive with the right backing.
195 comments so far
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:08 AM
Comment #81Bruce took that job knowing full well there was no desire or ambition to do anything other than stay in the league. By saying Mike had been honest with me was a frank admission that it had been explained to him he had a job for life under Ashley even if finished 17th every year and served up shite football. Nobody expected him to start slagging Ashley off, what he didn’t have to do as a ‘fan’ was jump feet first in to the regime PR and tell us constantly we’re shite and have been for years now. His time here is a dark stain on our history and I hope he’s sacked today.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:09 AM
Comment #82Don’t know if anyone saw the sports washing piece on GMTV this morning when some toon supporting journo decided he would stop supporting the toon in protest of the takeover.
When asked who he would now support he said Whitley Town, a small club in the northern conference league! PMSL…He obviously aint lived in the north east for most of his natural life and has no clue about local footy.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:11 AM
Comment #83“His time here is a dark stain on our history and I hope he’s sacked today.”
Here here!!!
Bills Son Is Back
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:12 AM
Comment #84IMO Bruce will be gone today.
No point prolonging the inevitable.
Bills Son Is Back
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:17 AM
Comment #85As Neil stated in a post…
Bruce did the job that was asked of him… he kept us up.
Chucking bile at him and calling him a dark stain on our history says far more about the person spewing the bile than Bruce.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:20 AM
Comment #86Bill’s,
Claiming for years that Ashley was good for the club and getting in to heated exchanges about it says much more about you!
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:21 AM
Comment #87Can’t see Bruce lasting another 24 hours, announcement today or tomorrow id have thought. The new owners will know all too well how unpopular he is, they’ll want the first match to be a positive atmosphere all over.
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:21 AM
Comment #88Give Bruce a game?
Give you’re head a wobble.
New era, new dawn, let’s continue this good feeling and have St James rocking but Bruce got to be gone.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:23 AM
Comment #89Bruce knew and understood the “finish 17th or higher” remit…but decided the basis on which to deliver that target was to deliver the worst kind of football imaginable thereby sucking the life out of the club and supporters.
For that and that alone he deserves no good will.
IMO.
Unused Substitute
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:25 AM
Comment #90To the limited intellect of a sports fan like me, sportswashing is more acceptable than sportsdefecating of Ashley and his ilk.
hibbit
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:28 AM
Comment #91Bruce might just end up at Derby but he’ll be finish here today,
magscar
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:30 AM
Comment #92Morning all
There could be reasons the Board see fit to keep Bruce on for Sunday … letting him have his 1000 game surely isn’t one of them
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:30 AM
Comment #93Jail
The truth is if Ashley didn’t run the club the way he did we wouldn’t of had this euphoric feeling we have had these last few days.
If Ashley didn’t run the club the way he did we wouldn’t be able to spend what we want for 3 years with FFP off our back because of the way the club has been ran financially.
Without Ashley and the way he ran the club we would have no Saudis.
For me I’d happily exchange those14 years of hurt minus the season of 11/12, for the feelings we have now and the endless possibilities we have with these new owners.
But without Ashley treating the club the way he did, these last few days would still be a fantasy.
Unused Substitute
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:32 AM
Comment #94BSIB: keeping us up wasn’t Bruce’s doing. Our insane luck did that in 2019/20 and other’s misfortune did that in 2020/21.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:34 AM
Comment #95I could barely sleep last night with the excitement of today. Hopefully the Spruce Goose is fired today.
magscar
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:35 AM
Comment #96Mund
Hmm I hear you and easy to say once we’ve come through it but if i was at the Crossroads right now and the devil was offering me that deal I mightn;t jump at it
in fact definately not at m age 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:35 AM
Comment #97Bruce went above and beyond what Ashley asked of him. He simply didn’t have to constantly remind the fans of how shite we were, it was done to keep his bosses happy and deflect his own short comings.
the crown princes nashers
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:37 AM
Comment #98morning ladies and gents, well I still cant get my head around everything thats happened since thursday, all I do is watch sky sports announced the takeover watch the fans go mental on a constand basis it still has not sank in the magnitude of this
bruce was warned before he took the job, managing the scum down the road didnt help matters at all and he knew it, insulting the fans is not the greatest thing to do if your the team manager and him calling himself a geordie it just doesnt happen he nailed himself to the wall and he shouldnt be anywhere near that job not good enough by the country mile and never has been
hibbit
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:38 AM
Comment #99the new owners have more sense and wont risk alienating the match going fans on such an important day in the history of the club,
Bruce is done, really they have no choice he has to go,
the crown princes nashers
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:41 AM
Comment #100spot on hibbit
Unused Substitute
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:42 AM
Comment #101*read 2018/19 for 2019/20 and 2019/20 for 2020/21. Didn’t realize I have lost the ability to count, sorry!
the crown princes nashers
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:45 AM
Comment #102we all know a bit about how football is done if i was in charge of that team there be no players left id have killed them all, the players need to get themselves together and sort the mess them and the donkey has put the club in along with the barrow boy I wont mention but ya all na who, these lot need to buck up and get the club out of this mess so no more i cant be bothered to play but thanks for the wages its time for them lot to stand up be counted and give a shift because if they dont they will soon hear it from the fans on sunday
Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:48 AM
Comment #103We all know Carltoon’s a badass, and a star, but even so you can’t keep politics off the blog, at least as it relates to our football club, when like it or not this takeover is in large part political.
I don’t believe that PIF bought us primarily for sporting reasons, or even primarily as a financial investment, in and of itself. I believe they bought us primarily to help the KSA efforts to change global perceptions of itself, as it tries to become a more moderate Islamic state, and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
It’s essentially one part of an exercise in soft politics, with the goal of enhancing diplomatic relations and foreign trade, and of course even considered “sports washing” in the minds of many fans and others, given the troubling human rights record of the KSA. So necessarily it should be accepted as a topic for discussion on here and other forums regarding the club.
Personally, I think it’s fascinating, and I’m really interested in how they go about, because splashing cash on big established stars, I think would be a very bad look. It has to be done right, slow, steady and ultimately achieving something very formidable and credible, if they are to succeed, while at the same time, achieving reform at home. Without achieving those reforms at home, our club can get hurt, so it is very important.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:48 AM
Comment #104When Amanda paused when asked about Bruce and said we’re looking forward to talking to speaking to him over the next few days, and when she almost angrily replied to a question saying this team is far better than what it’s playing like amd it shouldn’t be where it is you absolutely knew what’s in store for Bruce.
Honestly I’d be shocked if he’s still here after today or tomorrow at the latest.
the crown princes nashers
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:51 AM
Comment #105I wonder how the 19 clubs who have spat the dummies over the takeover are getting on with there stamping there feet and chucking there toys out the pram getting on with the league well considering the takeover is as tight as a fishes arse that is, there is no legal eagles who could change that now only 1 god who may stand a chance as to say
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:55 AM
Comment #106Ntbt,
Have you read that article The Ledge posted, if the guy who wrote it knows his onions then they’re here for a lit more than making a few quid out of a football club.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/sport/469482-why-saudi-arabias-300m-newcastle-purchase-can-be-considered-bargain
carltoon
Oct 11, 2021 at 8:57 AM
Comment #107Now now Nicky, you know what I meant, my rant was for the people who want to bring us down, what ever the reason, they are our owners now, we had no say in it, so why could some posters think they can come on here and once again put this moral dilemma onto our shoulders, I’ve read back my rant last night and i mean every word, I’m sick to death of having to justify going to a match. Now don’t rain on my parade, 😀
the crown princes nashers
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Comment #108to all the fans ( carltoon and co ) am stone jealous of the atmosphere that will be on sunday, I took a stand long long time ago got rid of the season ticket but god id love to be able to go now but its hard luck, they may need to build 150,000 stadium if there not careful haha
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Comment #109I think we’ll see Saudia Airlines on our jerseys next season and the shite direct signs replaced with Saudia insignia.
Mister Tuff
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:01 AM
Comment #110Trying to justify the performance of Brucie and suggesting that Toon supporters only feel good now is because of that nice Mr Tubbs and what he did for the club is a true perversion of reality and a blatantly daft wokish comment.
Never thought I would hear Toon supporters bigging these two up.
Shoulders knees
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:03 AM
Comment #111Good Morning All
New week, New Better New Manager?
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:04 AM
Comment #112I’m glad I’m going to be at work for the Spurs game, it would have been a right sickness to have been home but unable to get a ticket.
carltoon
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:05 AM
Comment #113Well you can certainly appreciate the good times better when you’ve endured the worst times, I think that’s what’s being alluded to.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:06 AM
Comment #114*sickner
carltoon
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:07 AM
Comment #115Jail, I’m feeling sick with excitement, but worrying now that we don’t get enough points to stay up,
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:11 AM
Comment #116Can I just comment of ffp because I seen a lot of people say we can spend what we want or we can blow 200M in January. Ye we could but we won’t.
We’d be able to spend 200M in Jan, but if we did we’d have nothing left for the summer except what we could make in profits between then and the summer window along with player sales we’d only have max 50M if we’re lucky to spend come the summer.
Yeah we could take advantage of the 3 year rule but its extremely unlikely we’d take advantage of that rule right off the bat, and tbh it’s unlikely we’d take advantage of it at all imo.
We could spend what we want and worry about it in 3 years time and take a huge fine when it comes but I think that’s a very poor way to run a club.
It’s possible they tick along slowly improving for 2-3 years then when they have a good stable squad they might take advantage of that rule and go balls to the wall and buy big players to try push for a trophy because by then we’d have an established side that adding big name players then means could actually benefit from those kind of signings more than we could with the team we have now.
But like I said even then its the kinda move somone would do if they didn’t think things through or weren’t very clever which is an unlikely strategy for the pif.
I would just like to say and I could be wrong here but I think its very unlikely you will see them spend anymore than 80M-130M in Jan. That would leave them with plenty of wiggle room in Jan if they box clever and also mean they have 100M- 150M then to spend I the summer.
Which to me seems a far more sensible out come and fits with what Stavely is telling us about bring realistic and starting slow and steady, unless of course she is only saying that to add to the surprise and shock of what’s to come in Jan, which I doubt is the case in all realty tbf.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:15 AM
Comment #117Ashley has no interest in football whatsoever, he bought Newcastle United purely and simply to promote the sports Direct Brand around the globe by having SD on all the advertising boards for the live matches and behind the manager and players when being interviewed. Nothing more…nothing less.
14 years later job done…his brand is global, it’s in Singapore and Australia to the east, in North and South America to the west and just about everywhere else in-between. He didn’t need us anymore so we’ve been sold , albeit 2 years later than planned.
This man is cold and it’s always been about the money…nothing else…and some might say that’s the same about the Saudi Regime…but at least the fans of Newcastle can dare dream again and I personally am very OK with that. I’ve supported Newcastle through thin and thin, and now I’m gonna support them through fat and fat…AMEN 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sheikh rattle and roll!
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:17 AM
Comment #118carltoon,
I think we’ll be OK with a new manager, Dubs, Lascelles and Wilson to return and players like Fraser and Schar returning to the fold. If we can put 12 points on the board between now and January, we should easily claim 25 points with the addition of a CB, MF and striker.
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:20 AM
Comment #119Carltoon
I don’t think we need to worry too much about relegation this season now. We have owners in place who will actually act if things get bad, not just be idle in the hope it magically turns around. A new manager can get a lot more out of this team, the players will know they have to prove themselves now and if we’re struggling a lot by January then we will see some reinforcements brought in.
I think we’ll be ok and it’s nice knowing that action will be taken if we’re struggling.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 9:24 AM
Comment #120Just looked at the fixtures there. I think there’s 12 points there. You’d like to think that BUR and NOR at home was six points, Palace and Brentford don’t look as daunting as they did five days ago either. As I say, if we can get 15 points by January we’ll be good.