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
magpie6699
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:12 AM
Comment #161I don’t hate Bruce and I think the vitriol hurled at him is over the top. However, his premier league record over the years speaks for itself and when you think that Watford sacked their manager for “only” getting 7 points from 7 games, Bruce has to be lucky not to be sacked already. I can only presume that because the takeover was bubbling under, Ashley knew it wouldn’t have to come out of his pot of money although since MA has no interest or knowledge about football, he wouldn’t care anyway.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:13 AM
Comment #162IR,
Sin alcohol.
DubaiMicky
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:13 AM
Comment #163Irish Rob Dry = No booze
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:14 AM
Comment #164geordietom,
Surely if Ashley bought Derby he’d want them in the PL and Bruce is not the man for that.
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:15 AM
Comment #165IrishRob
Couldn’t agree more and I hated it also. Believe it or not I hate confrontation and bad atmosphere and I know I contributed to that so I am sorry.
Before that we got along well both on here and Twitter.
United always and forever from now on
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:15 AM
Comment #166We can agree on that Jail it was unnecessary the last 14 years
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:16 AM
Comment #167DMicky,
That doesn’t sound like much fun.
Optimistic prime
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:16 AM
Comment #168I’ll remember Bruce for having a canny dog and being a decent dog walker.
No malice from me.
I’m just glad it didn’t go on any longer.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:17 AM
Comment #169On Conte I really get the feeling he’s just playing the game and trying to get more money or a better deal. Yesterday journalists were reporting that he’s at least interested in talks with Newcastle, a few days before that it was flat out he’s not interested. I think his agent is working the press tbh.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he joins us. But I still think the likes of Farve is a more likely bet.
Whoever it is I just hope it’s not Martinez, Gerrard, lampard or Rogers. None of them feel like a good fit tbh for different reasons.
DrGloom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:20 AM
Comment #170Bruce should go today, why would PCP want to undermine the positivity of fans and players created by the takeover by keeping him in place for spurs … Even Simon Jordan said he should go and he’s a good friend of his
Mister Tuff
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Comment #171Aaah I see the point about Toon supporters – being what we’ve been through – then (as a result of that) being more appreciative of the take over.
What is the matter with Brendan Rodgers gob. He’s obviously had a new set of chompers which seem to be a couple of sizes too big for his gob. Needs a need set.
Optimistic prime
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Comment #172Getting Conte in is like getting Lewis Hamilton to drive the school bus!
Excessive to say the least.
I’d be gobsmacked if he’s our next manager.
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:21 AM
Comment #173Jail …
all the derby fans want ashley , they think he’ll be their saviour tried telling them that he wont spend money on the clib but they are positive he’s the man for them …
Mister Tuff
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:22 AM
Comment #174Brucie is going to be away shortly – cannot have him in charge for the weekend.
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:22 AM
Comment #175club*
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:23 AM
Comment #176jail …
anyway i dont think bruce would come to derby , but then again he might tons of pubs here :lo:
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:24 AM
Comment #177😆
Toon Tang
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:24 AM
Comment #178Apparently the owners are meeting the team and coaches etc today.
I reckon they may want to fire Bruce in front of everyone to make a statement
Rotonda heights
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:24 AM
Comment #179Cyprus
Poor analogy, bruce has hardly ”run a marathon”. They barely do 2 days training a week and most of that he’s apparently sat in his office. So a man who endlessly exudes misery, snipes at the fans all the time, destroyed a good well organised defence, was given more money than any other Ashley manager and had to have a coach ”parachuted” in is walking away with 8M for abject failure.
If Ms Stavely and co are getting ruthless it’s way over due. 999 games with a very low win ratio shouldn’t be allowed to become 1000 here.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:25 AM
Comment #180I wouldn’t care if we didn’t get Conte either, he could be epic but hes also one of those that just doesn’t feel like the right fit for us just yet.
DrGloom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:25 AM
Comment #181OP , Bruce is probably a nice bloke to have a pint with but unfortunately that isn’t part of the management remit … As the only mouthpiece of Newcastle over the last three years he’s brought nothing but negativity to the fans and local press. Ultimately it’s results that got him the sack , of we were mid table I could see PCP giving him a few games but the reality is that we’re 19th and leaking goals like a sieve
DrGloom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:26 AM
Comment #182Geordietom – bit how many Gregg’s are there ?
Toon Tang
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:26 AM
Comment #183Like when you snap a chickens neck and Leave the snap neck chicken on your front door step to warn the other chickens not to mess with you
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:26 AM
Comment #184https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-saudi-takeover-tv-series-21817404
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:27 AM
Comment #185Gloom …
5 or 6 mate he’ll be reet 😆
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:28 AM
Comment #186Ugh hearing Bruce might not be fired today just makes me angry tbh. Please just get it over with even if all we habe to cover for him is the bin man I want him gone so badly it hurts 🙁
martoon
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:29 AM
Comment #187I don’t hate Bruce with the vitriol that some of you have. I don’t blame him for taking the job – a chance to manage his home town club in the Premiership – who of us would have turned that down? He also did OK to keep us in the PL.
However where he totally loses my respect is this season when he was completely undermined by Ashley in the transfer window with respect to loans and then after a very poor start to the season he should have resigned instead of hanging on by his finger nails!
The Rev.Jim
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:29 AM
Comment #188The NEW OWNERS
doesn’t that sound great 😉
Will be meeting the players and the bruce today apparently.
SO (AH man I sound like Peston )
sew I would guess tomorrow will be the day the bruce buys a new tractor
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:31 AM
Comment #189Couple of wildcard nominations for manager
Christophe Galtier – done well in France at Lille and now at Nice
Gerardo Seoane – Done well with Swiss team Young Boys and now doing well in a step up at Leverkusen
Marco Rose – Done well at Salburgh, Gladbach and now at Borussia Dortmund
Jesse_Marsch – Done well in America, done well at Salzburg and now doing well at Leipzig
geordietom
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:32 AM
Comment #190gloom …
they have a greggs at pride park at the ground , so brucie will be well happy 😆
catchy in norway
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:33 AM
Comment #191wow, just wow, when i read on here the pure negativity towards our squad, it really shows how deluded a lot of you are.
if any good coach comes in, if he is good he will get a bounce and get the players playing better, our squad is not terrible, our tactics are terrible.
When SBR took over at about this stage, we were bottom, he brought the feel good factor and set the team up right, then the following season bought some pace then finished 3rd.
this squad with a the feel good factor is easily a mid table team.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:33 AM
Comment #192Cheers Mick! Are you saying that all their international flights will be dry just because they don’t allow alcohol in KSA? Couldn’t they just stop selling it when they get into SA airspace or be really strict and just not allow it on inbound flights.
It would seem like a catastrophic error to ban it worldwide on all their flights if they plan on turning it into a powerhouse.
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:34 AM
Comment #193Magpie Media
@MagpieMediaa
The consortium are currently exploring options to buy out the remainder of Fun88 shirt sponsorship.
This is due to betting bans around Saudi Arabia meaning shirts will be produced with no sponsor for fans in Saudi Arabia #NUFC
The Rev.Jim
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:35 AM
Comment #194It’s great speculating who we may buy, BUT
My concern is we need shot of a lot of deadwood first.
I’m sure we will stay up now,as the NEW OWNERS 🙂
Will have been watching us and have a plan B,C,D,E etc
unlike before when we didn’t even have a plan A
DubaiMicky
Oct 11, 2021 at 10:51 AM
Comment #195Irish, it’s because it’s illegal to have alcohol in KSA, so the planes don’t carry it, even BA don’t when going to or from Riyadh for example.
There are rumours that the new city they’re building will have alcohol in the 5* hotels and then that will flow out to the current 5* hotels too. The Ritz Carlton in Riyadh is amazing – but doesn’t have a booze license, the bars there only sell 0% alcohol beers and mocktails.